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Scott Clifton Reveals Theory On Why The Bold and The Beautiful's Love Triangles Are So Successful!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

This past Thursday at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, in the continued celebration of CBS Daytime’s 30 years at #1 and their exhibit on display through November 27th, stars of The Bold and the Beautiful, along with EP and head writer, Brad Bell participated in a panel moderated by TV Guide’s Michael Logan.

Participating in the panel event were: Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Heather Tom (Katie), Karla Mosley (Maya), Jacob Young (Rick), Scott Clifton (Liam), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), Darin Brooks (Wyatt), John McCook (Eric), Don Diamont (Bill) and Alley Mills (Pam).  At the beginning of the event a clip package was shown illustrating the love stories, triangles, and moments from the series, followed by a reading of the first episode of the series.  It was read on-stage with all the cast members and Brad Bell playing the parts.

During the Q&A session, Logan begun to touch upon the wildly popular success and soap staple of The Bold and the Beautiful; that of their storied love triangles.  From Bill/Brooke/Ridge, to Wyatt/Steffy/Liam, to Hope/Liam/Wyatt, and on and on, and on.   When the question of why this hallmark of the show continues to work so well, it was Scott Clifton who weighed-in on the topic and nailed it on the head.

Scott Clifton on the success of B&B love triangles: “You can almost pick any love triangle, and almost every time divide our entire audience in half in who they support, and now with social media it’s even easier to see.  We can see it from a birds-eye view.   You can have two fans who look at the exact same scene and in the same context, and come away with two wildly different interpretations.  I don’t think that is an accident.  There is a formula and a design that allows the audience to use their imaginations and fill in the blanks, and insert their own ethics, and their own morality, and their own spin on what they are seeing.  I think that contributes to the success of these triangles, and as Brad Bell was saying, ‘there is an inherent morality’ (to the characters), and I think that’s true.  You can watch any scene and you can see both characters as the good guy, and I think that’s rare.”

So, do you agree with Scott Clifton’s assesement of why B&B fans continually invest in the show’s triangles and are drawn in by them?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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I disagree, I thoroughly dislike the triangles. They would be interesting occassionally, but this thing of never, ever having a happy couple for more than a couple of weeks gets tiring. Just my opinion

I totally agree, these triangles get old. Same storyline over and over.

B & B is only known for love triangles and flashbacks every day. I’ve been watching for nine years now. Same repeated stories just a different day. How may times can Nicole go thru her gut-wrenching dilemma of having another baby for Maya and Rick?
How many times does Brooke & Bill dream about their romance which includes the balloon ride? How many times has Steffy been shown walking toward Liam in her gown and cowboy boots? Oh yeah, let’s not forget about the Quinn and Eric flashbacks. You can easily not watch it for a month or more and not miss much but the same repeated nonsense. All the soaps I have watched over the years, none has ever used used so many flashbacks as a waste of not using new dialogue in the show.

I’m with you. If I see Steffie in her wedding gown one more time I will be screaming from kingdom come. The flashbacks are such a waste. They have so many wonderful actors on that show that they push aside to show the same pointless nonsense with the same couples. I loved when Maya’s family was introduced. The change was so welcomed. Would love to seecmore of Caroline with the baby, and Thomas. Maya’s baby is barely out of the womb, they really have nerve to as Nicole to do it again. Give the girl a chance to give her body a chance to recuperate. And Brooke is never going to be happy unless she is with a man. Although I thought it was a stunning gown, I had a hard time keeping a straight face at seeing Brooke of all people wearing a white gown. To me right now, the only saving grace right now is the Eric and Quinn storyline. I want to see how it plays out. If I were Eric, I would kick all of those money grubbers to the curb. He doesn’t owe them a thing. Talk about a bunch of spoiled whiners!!

soapqueenforever…A-M-E-N!!!!! More and more, Ridge works my nerves THE MOST!!!!! At this point, Ridge is nothing but an out of control, bullying and arrogant CAVEMAN…BEYOND BLECH!!!!! GIMME A BREAK ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!

Have a good one.

You are absolutely right about the flashbacks. How many times have we seen Ridge fall out of the helicopter. Even when they were guests on the Talk they showed that clip. Or Steffy and Liam’s wedding.
. For a 1/2 hour soap there should be no flashbacks.

In agree with you with the same lame and tired flashback segments and what I see at the beginning of Monday Nov 7, 2016 show, flash backs of Liam and Steffy as well as Zende and Sasha. They are running out of stuff to write for B&B characters and have to use flash back stuff for fillers as well as they have to revert back to storylines they have already been their and did.

As I always say the beginning of the end of soaps are soon to be on their way and if not all B&B might be the first of the last 4 to go.

No B&B makes too much money overseas for them to canned it– they love it in other countries– the first soap of the last four soaps to go with be Days

I agree—the flash backs get old–the ones of Brooke & Bill and Eric and Quinn. I ‘m sorry, but I could watch Steffy & Liam all day

OMG they are so boring. In fact I can’t name one of the young couples that I want to watch for even 30 minutes. Eric and Quinn right now are the most interesting, and Bill and any woman is fun to watch, when he’s not acting like a jerk. No wonder they are talking about cancelling in 2017.

I love B&B. The only complaint is that the show is not an hour long so we could see more of the characters. Scott is exactly right. I know some people are for Liam, others for Wyatt. Some are for Quinn/Eric, while others hate it. Same for Bill/Brooke. But, the show is consistent with giving each character depth, especially Katie and Quinn. I look forward to watching every day. Katherine Kelly Lang and Heather Tom are amazing.

Successful? Are you kidding me? At least 90% of the comments I read online are NEGATIVE regarding the horrible “triangels'” and “quadrangle”!!!!!! I’d love to know the percentage of viewers that actually like these ridiculous, repetitive storylines!

Lol @scottclifton delusional much? I thought Quinn just did a number on only your character…obvious break from reality.

He is so wrong. If it wasn’t for the Quinn and Eric story I would be done with BB. I started watching when my ABC soaps were cancelled. Any more rinse/repeat/rinse love triangles and I am just about to call it quits with Bold and the Beautiful

I to would take a break if not for Eric and Quinn. And I have been a viewer on and off since day one.

I agree. I think they can only afford a small cast and have to keep using these same people over and over and showing these flashbacks every time someone has a thought in their head probably saves money too. I read that Ronn Moss asked Bill Bradley not (of all the nerve) to recast Ridge. I still think it was very pompous of him , but maybe he was right, because as much as I loved this Ridge, can’t think of his name right now, on AMC, I now feel he isn’t right for the role. He’s too gruff and unkempt and is just not Ridge, but a whole new character. If that’s what they intended, it worked, but has not made too many fans happy.

old days finagled were great now days who cares

I stopped watching. Same thing over and over. Brookso needy stupid smiles. Ridge a bully. Bill ego maniac. Stephie, all knowing. Liam too gowqodie. The whole Rick and Maya, etc.. So over it.

I agree with that

i agree too. i stopped watching it too. steffy had wyatt then she left him for liam again. and now she’s with liam again. quinn should stay out of this. and stop trying to get wyatt and steffy back together. steffy left wyatt because of quinn. wyatt should get his own girlfriends without quinn helping him. she babies wyatt alot if he doesn’t get the girl he wants he crys to his mom. liam should just go with ivy.

I’m tired of these love triangles as well, Let’s see… Who is married on the show? Rick and Maya, Eric and She devil ( Quinn).. Steffy and Wyatt is headed for divorce, and that’s it with a whole lot of infidelity to top it off…. B&B has a whole lot of sharing going on, and personally I’m tired of it… These are the same stories for all the characters, they don’t even have to run lines, because the stupid roles have already been played out writers, somebody need to hold a couple of job fairs, for new writers, because the ones that you have needs to fired. They can’t even think of new stories for these characters…. It’s pitiful writing at its worst…. Just saying!!

me too . i don’t watch it because of the love triangles and the drama between wyatt and quinn and steffy. she should just got back with wyatt and let liam move on with ivy. i think liam and ivy should be togther so won’t have to be in the drama between wyatt and quinn and steffy. leave liam alone and let him move on from you with ivy. give quinn what she wants. you and her son . steffy and liam had a long history together that was in the past . let the past go. move on from liam with wyatt . u married wyatt because u loved him steffy. in my opion u steffy should be with wyatt .

Please give us some better storylines us old soap watchers have seen these same scences repeated with different people. Although i will still watch, just fast forward the scene s i ihave seen over and over.

I have been fast forwarding through most episodes these days as you can pretty much tell what is coming out of everyone’s mouths and everything is so predictable. I am enjoying the Quinn and Eric story but everything else seems so repetitive. Looking forward to some new and exciting story lines that don’t involve the triangles.

I am agreeing with the not keeping a couple together for more than a week is getting tiresome. Brook/Ridge is so outdated. They are friends. Leave it there.

Love that Nicole changed her mind.
Quinn and Eric? Hmmmm

LOL– is there any story on this show not based on a triangle– even the corporate stuff is all triangles — who should Eric put in charge Ridge or Rick? — who should run the company now that Eric is on leave– Quinn or Ridge? Who should Nicole put first Zende or Maya— I think it is the only soap formula poor Brad knows how to write—

I only like romance triangles when as a viewer I am equally torn between the two choices– but with B&B the triangles are done to death, and characters go back and forth so many times that I stopped caring. Both Liam and Wyatt should grow a pair and tell Steffy to take a hike, she ain’t worth it guys— right now Liamt has “won” but give it enough time Steffy with be with Wyatt again– or Hope will come back and Liam will drop Steffy to be with Hope— and the fact Brad is trying to create a love triangle between Brooke/Bill and Ridge is beyond laughable— B&B is the soap version of junk food– a little at a time is okay, but a steady meal of it will make you ill..– which is why I never watch this show everyday

I agree with you. Its getting boring.

I can’t get on the Ridge/Brooke/Bill triangle. There is huge chemistry between Brooke and Bill. No chemistry between Brooke and Ridge. Ridge always looks like he’s living under the 105 flyover. Wears the same clothes, never shaves, never washes his greasy hair which looks like it was cut by another homeless person with a dull knife.
I love Liam and Steffy. Do not like Wyatt anymore – hook him up the Aussie from down under. I’m tired of the Rick and Maya storyline – the surrogate storyline is awful. Bring Amber back – Rick and Amber sizzled. Recast Ridge and bring back Taylor. I prefer Bill and Katie.
Worst couple – Eric and Quinn

What a good idea about Amber! Bring her back, yes. Seeing as how they love triangles so much, it might be fun to see her try to split Ric and Myah up. Love it!

Triangles… the same ones over and over again.. are the reason I quit watching this soap. B O R I N G

I am backing off this show recently for the reasons Scott thinks it is successful! Maybe it worked for awhile, but now it’s just too much of the same old same old. The characters are too narcissistic and lacking in morals. I wish they had not done the second go round if Nicole, Zende and Sacha. I think I am done with this now !!

Liem and Stephy, Eric and Quinn, Thomas and Shasha, Brook and whoever, need I say more?

What a load of crap. B&B started to slowly die the day Liam arrived and the show started to revolve around his love triangles, I don’t care about 90% of this show anymore. If they were really paying attention to fans on social media, Scott would’ve been off the show years ago and the triangles would be long ago ended.

I don’t mind the triangles, but I have to agree with the poster who thought the writers should let coupled up be happy for more than a couple of weeks. Why can’t Steffy & Liam be the “power couple”?? Maya & Rick are absolutely horrible human beings, never having to answer for anything they’ve done. I am a die-hard fan of Liam & Steffy. I read the daily re-caps, and if they are not in it, I skip it. Brooke,Katie, and Bill— in my opinion that is disgusting, and I have no interest in that triangle.
They are sisters, and your sisters husband or ex-husband is just morally wrong. When a new couple comes on, then the writers mess it up. Deacon & Quinn were perfect together. There were no surprises–they knew the worst & the best of each other
and accepted each other. What in the cows hill happened to the sweet romance between Ridge & Caroline?? It is crazy. Everyone knows Steffy & Liam are soul mates. They always come back together. Steffy came from Paris to reunite with Liam. Let them be happy for awhile. Maya and Rick are the only happy couple, and they deserve it the least.

Triangles are a proven soap staple and more soaps should utilize them to maximum effect. That said, B&B overdoses on the triangle formula and for me never plays them to maximum effect (the object of everyone’s affection just ping-pongs back and forth between their two suitors and never settles long enough for you to invest in either coupling).

B&B lost its appeal for me the second Sheila Carter left town for the last time (every soap needs a bad girl to stir the pot — another soap staple that all the current shows seem to have forgotten).

That’s why I said above to bring Amber back, she’s always good for stirring the pot, and where is Deacon when you need him?

They mentioned Deacon on Y&R and said he left L.A. for some reason, makes me wonder what’s going on. I would love to see Amber start a rival fashion house.

Are you kidding me?!?!? I don’t think that that Scott Clifton dude has a CLUE as to how love triangles WORK on a soap PERIOD!!!!! Example: At this point, his B&B character (Liam) is nothing but an annoying and lovesick CHEESEHEAD!!!!! And that Liam/Steffy/Wyatt CRAP-FEST of a love triangle is EVEN WORSE!!!!! NO, NO AND MORE N-O!!!!!

Later.

I’m glad I don’t even have to write what I think because most of you feel the same way I do. I can’t stand ANY of the triangles that Liam is in and while I love Scott Clifton, I adored Hope and Liam together but that was constantly interrupted by Quinn, Wyatt, Ivy, and Steffy so that in the end they were never happy. As a result I’m no longer invested in Liam as a character because seeing him with Steffy is just ill gotten gains on her part. They keep showing her getting married to him and ignoring the part where she had Bill trap Hope on a gondola while Liam and Steffy got married, or Hope marrying that dunderhead Wyatt because Liam was two seconds late in Paris, or Hope and Liam getting married in Mexico in a wedding so beautiful in still makes me cry, and the marriage never being made legal because of Hope’s stupid whining about Steffy. They tried to use the younger generation to imitate the Brooke/Ridge/Taylor triangle which worked because it unfolded slowly and you could see why he loved both of them, and I loved Brooke and Taylor too (I just love Brooke more though;), so you could root for each side. The new generation lacks any subtlety or substance so I can’t care because I never fully liked Steffy unless she was with Bill, because he was on her level, even though he too was stolen from Katie. It’s hard to like this show period when they focus on stupid characters like Quinn and put her with Eric and no one in the universe asked for that. Yet when I beg to see characters I miss like Thorne, Taylor, Donna, Amber, Deacon, Bridget and Jackie, they are either never shown or mentioned or they show them for two seconds and they disappear. Donna was there for Brooke’s wedding after being missing for a year and a half for no good reason, pops up again and now KATIE is in a triangle with Eric and Quinn and not Donna? Wtf? That is why I don’t watch the show as passionately as I used to watch the show. I have enough disappointment in this last election that I don’t have to add on my favorite shows being unwatchable.

Please Writer leave Eric and Quinn together and let’s start Putting people together for more then 3 weeks and let’s stop The love triangle Between Sasha and Nichole

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

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Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan

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.

Susan and Kelly

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.”

Susan Flannery and cast

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.

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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?

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Kandi Burress, Tabitha Brown, Karla Mosley

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!

Beyond the Gates

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.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

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Kyle Pryor

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.

Dominix

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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