News
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Brad Bell to Launch First Microseries Featuring Vertical Drama Stars Eric Guilmette and Molly Anderson for ‘aTwist’

On Thursday June 11, it was announced that The Bold and the Beautiful’s Bradley Bell (executive producer and head writer) is getting into the burgeoning vertical space, and will bring his first microseries, Hollywood Starlet, under his Red Flair Entertainment banner to aTwist (formerly MicroCo) the U.S.-based microseries studio and platform that is set to launch later this summer.
The upcoming microdrama is called Hollywood Startlet and will be led by vertical drama stars: Eric Guilmette (You Belong With Me, Tails of Christmas) and Molly Anderson (We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together) and Bella Mraz (Faceless). Guilmette will also serve as co-producer of the series.
Hollywood Starlet will film at Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Hollywood across multiple stages where CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful transitioned in 2025 after 38 years at Television City.

Photo: JPI
The upcoming microdrama was created by Brad Bell; directed and written by Kristen Brancaccio; and executive produced by Anthony Ferrari, Oliver Bell, Paxton Fuller and Graham Lawyer. Bradley Bell and his son Oliver Bell founded Red Flair Entertainment to specifically focus on elevated vertical series.
Microseries are serialized stories designed for mobile-first viewing: typically 40-60 episodes of one to three minutes each, built vertically, and consumed either in moments throughout the day or as a binge experience all at once. This is a fast-growing global category, generating an estimated $10 billion annually worldwide.
By combining Hollywood storytelling with a tech-first production and distribution engine, aTwist is focused on delivering quality vertical content alongside an engagement-driven platform for dedicated fan communities.
aTwist is founded by: chief executive officer Jana Winograde (former President of Showtime), chief creative officer Susan Rovner (former Chairman of NBCU Content and President of Warner Bros TV), and executive chairman Lloyd Braun (former Chairman of ABC Entertainment Group, studio and network, and Chairman of WME).
In a statement on Bell’s upcoming foray into microdramas, Susan Rovner expressed, “Brad Bell is one of the most influential creative forces in daytime television, and bringing him into the aTwist universe is a major moment for us. The Bold and the Beautiful has defined storytelling for decades, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with him as he brings that legacy into a new format with Hollywood Starlet. We think fans are going to love seeing this world evolve in such a fun, fresh way.”
aTWIST TO SERVE UP SLATE OF ORIGINAL MICRODRAMAS
With a track record of building iconic franchises, launching global hits, and transforming creative vision into scaled entertainment businesses, the aTwist leadership team will create a home for original verticals in a multitude of genres, curated acquired microseries, and creator-led innovative narrative storytelling – building a quality-driven, globally scalable microseries ecosystem, rooted in fandom, community, and storytelling excellence.
aTwist is creating original content that spans comedy, drama, unscripted, horror, and romance built for how mobile-first audiences consume content today. From fresh, bold ideas by emerging talent to exciting collaborations with existing IP, brands, and stars, aTwist is establishing a destination for audiences who want engaging stories anytime, anywhere. A platform built to create community around fandoms, a place where consumers can find stories built for joyscrolling, not doomscrolling.
In addition, aTwist recently announced a partnership with BET to develop and distribute microseries across linear and vertical platforms, with a first-of-its-kind windowing model bringing microseries to television while expanding storytelling rooted in Black culture and community. aTwist currently has more than 20 series in production across scripted, unscripted and animation formats, with a strong pipeline of series in development. The studio and platform will deliver a slate of originals that push the current microseries offerings, tapping into underserved fandoms across horror, thriller, comedy, drama, anime, sci-fi and more.
As soap fans know, The Bold and the Beautiful has aired on CBS for 39 years, and is the most-watched U.S.-produced daytime drama in the world. In addition to his work with The Bold and the Beautiful, Brad Bell is also an owner of its sister soap, The Young and the Restless, which has aired on CBS for 53 years.

Photo: EGuilmette IG
HOT STARS OF THE VERTICAL WORLD
Vertical drama leading man, Eric Guilmette recently participated in a livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel, along with other stars of the microdrama space including: Nick Rittaco, Sam Myserson and former General Hospital star, Robert Palmer Watkins (ex-Dillon Quartermaine). You can check that out below.
Now let us know, what do you think of The Bold and the Beautiful’s Brad Bell developing a microdrama company along with his son, Oliver, to bring new series to your phones and more? Might we soon see soap operas have side stories as well as companion to their main shows on network television? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Damn
The young actor Guilmete should ve been cast as RJ! Hes a deadringer for a young Ron Moss! That jawline and eyes!
It’s an interesting idea that I believe all the daytime soaps will eventually follow. Microdrama’s makes sense especially for the teen scene. You can build these episode arcs over the summer when the teens are home and continue them when the teens return to school. It’s a great way to build loyalty to a soap much like when boomers followed their soap watching grandma’s preferences when they were kids. Days pioneered some of this with their last blast saga off screen. All becomes new again as they say.
General Hospital
‘Knots Landing’ Favorite Donna Mills Joins ‘OnlyFans’

Donna Mills, who at 85-years-old is still turning heads, booking film and TV roles and co-hosting the We’re Knot Done Yet podcast with her Knots Landing pals, Michele Lee (ex-Karen) and Joan Van Ark (ex-Valene), is now joining the world of Only Fans.
The news came Mills herself in a statement, where she shared to Variety, “I’ve always appreciated the incredible support and encouragement I’ve received from my fans over the years. Social media has been a wonderful way to stay connected, but I’m excited to join OnlyFans because it offers the opportunity for a more personal and direct connection.”
While OnlyFans is primarily known for its steamy content, Mills is taking a different approach, explaining that she will be “sharing moments from my daily life, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging with fans in a more meaningful way. It’s simply another platform to spend quality time with the people who’ve supported me throughout my career while staying true to who I am.”

Photo: JPI
WHY DID DONNA MILLS JOIN OTHER CELEBRITIES ON ONLYFANS?
Andy Bachman, CEO Creators INC who presides over OnlyFans also shared in a statement, “This is not about changing who she is. It is about giving her longtime fans more access to the personality, style and behind-the-scenes moments they already love. Donna has always been fearless and ahead of her time. She told me, ‘YOLO — let’s do it,’ and that perfectly captures her attitude. She is approaching OnlyFans on her own terms and creating a space that feels authentic, personal and completely true to her.”
Mill’s move to OnlyFans comes on the heels of others in Hollywood who are pivoting to the platform not only for its revenur, but to control their own narrative of what they want put out into the world about themselves. One example is Shannon Elizabeth of American Pie and Scary Movie fame, who told Variety that since April she has earned more than $1.2 million in seven days via her OnlyFans account.

Photo: JPI
FROM THE CUL DE SAC AT SEAVIEW CIRCLE TO PORT CHARLES
While Donna Mills is best- known for her role as Abby Cunningham Ewing on Knots Landing from 1980-1989, 1993, she also won a Daytime Emmy for her role of Madeline Reeves on General Hospital. Mills played the evil mother to Nina Reeves (then Michelle Stafford) and sister to Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) from 2014-2015 and again in 2018.
The veteran actress also had a leading role in the soap opera, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, where she and GH’s late, great sister, Leslie Charleson (ex-Monica Quartermaine, GH) played sisters Laura and Iris Donnelly from 1967-1970. Mills began her soap career on The Secret Storm back in 1966.
So, what do you think of Donna Mills joining OnlyFans? Do you think the once exclusive provocative content platform, which is going more Hollywood, will ultimately be where big named celebrity post their own content? Share your thoughts via the comment section below, and in case you missed it, you can check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s most recent chat with Donna Mills from earlier this year and our livestream with Donna, Michele and Joan from 2025 below.
News
Y&R Alum Brenda Dickson Breaks Silence On Her Arrest, ‘Everyone in the LAPD Knows Who Jill Abbott Is’

Following the report from TMZ that ‘Young and the Restless’ alum Brenda Dickson (ex-Jill Foster Abbott) was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery on a person back on July 9, but later released on the same day on her own recognizance, comes word from Dickson herself.
Brenda broke her silence when she took to Instagram on Thursday, July 30 about the incident in which on the night of July 8, LAPD officers responded to a call in Hollywood were the former soap siren allegedly struck someone.
Now, Dickson shared her side of the story. “There’s a rumor going around that I slapped someone,” began Brenda. “TMZ emailed me the other day. Basically, I’m not going to say everything, but maybe you can read between the lines. Somebody wanted to get me out of where I’m living and they made a false claim that I slapped someone. Then, they reported it to the police and they’re connected to someone else. I won’t say who. So, basically they arrested me.”

Photo: CBS
LAPD RECOGNIZING BRENDA DICKSON FROM THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
The actress claimed the police station was very familiar with the antics of her Genoa City alter-ego! “They take me down to the LAPD. Well, everyone in the LAPD knows knows who Jill Abbott is. They knew who I was, and they were telling me, ‘you know, go to the DA’s office,’ because one of the policemen had a gold watch and that was a little suspicious. So, I just went downtown and my case was rejected by the judge. So it’s over. I have no fingerprints. I have no record.”
Dickson continued, “That’s why I didn’t respond to TMZ, or anyone until this happened, because I knew this was going to happen. I’m still heavily involved in my trial and trying to get my property, and it’s not over with yet. That’s why I haven’t touched base with you. I just wanted to thank you all for helping me and standing behind me (because) I know a lot of you heard this rumor. One of my fans said, ‘Oh, good. I hope you gave him a good ‘Joan Crawford’ slap.’ I’ve never slapped anybody in my life. Love you all and I’ll be back with good news, I’m sure, about my case.”
BRENDA’S DUST-UPS WITH THE LAW
This is not the first time Dickson has had a dust up with the law. In 2007, Brenda spent several months in jail in Hawaii from a civil contempt order involving the divorce from her second husband, Jan Weinberg. She maintained she did not get a fair trial. Then, in 2009, she won her appeal and it vacated the judgment against her.
Soap fans first came to know Brenda when she was one of the breakout stars of the early years of The Young and the Restless back in 1973. Jill and Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper) battled for the love of Katherine’s husband, Phillip Chancellor (Donnelly Rhodes) and his death took their long-running feud to new depths that lasted decades.
Dickson’s initial run as Y&R’s Jill lasted until 1980. Later, she returned for another run from 1983-1987. The part was recast with Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and eventually, Jess Walton.
Check out Brenda’s video below where she recounts what happened to her at the LAPD after she was arrested for “slapping” someone.
So, what do you think abut Brenda’s side of the story? Was someone setting her up? Did the LAPD know Jill Foster Abbott? Share your thoughts as it appears all is OK for Dickson as of now.
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General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Troy Lennon Appel Makes His Debut as ‘Hudson’: Is He a New Love Interest for Josslyn? Baby Phoebe’s Bio-Dad?

Towards the conclusion of the Thursday, July 30 episode of General Hospital, Troy Lennon Appel made his debut asa “mysterious and shady businessman” going by the name of “Hudson.”
The person who first saw Hudson was none other than Ethan Lovett, who is now played by another soap newcomer Christian Howard, who replaced the exited Nathan Dean in the role.
From the looks of things, Ethan was not at all happy to see Hudson at the Metro Court Pool. It looks as though Ethan doesn’t even want Hudson to know he is in the same town. So, how do these two know each other? Is Hudson the father of baby Phoebe? Is Hudson possibly a Quartermaine? Like Dillon Quartermaine … or someone else from the Q clan? Stay tuned.

Photo: ABC
TROY LENNON APPEL JOINS KELLY KRUGER AS THE LATEST ARRIVALS ON-SCREEN TO GH
Meanwhile, for his premiere airdate, which also marked the first on-screen episode of Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin, Troy spoke to TV Insider and shared a bit about the character he’s playing and more.
Appel expressed, “Hudson is a shady businessman, and you’re not clear as to his motives, He goes one way, but then leans the other, and so he kind of keeps you on your toes. So far, what I’ve played, this guy is way cooler than I am, so it’s been so cool to play him. But he’s just been a force to be reckoned with so far, and I’m not even entirely sure as to all of his intentions in Port Charles. I’m excited to see where his journey goes, because I’m very lucky to be playing this character.”
As GH casting lore goes, Troy actually read for the role of Joe Fitzpatrick that went to Jonathan Bennett, but the producers were impressed by him that they created the role of Hudson with Appel specifically in mind. And stand by … according to Appel, he screen-tested with Daytime Emmy-winner, Eden McCoy (Josslyn).
So, is Hudson the new man for Josslyn? All Appel would say was, “I did a chemistry read with Eden much later when I kind of cemented that I was going to be playing another character, and it all just happened and I’m insanely grateful that it did.”
With Troy Lennon Appel, Kelly Kruger, Christian Howard, and Dean Geyer (whose character of Tristan was revealed to have ties with the WSB) all appearing on the latest episode of General Hospital, was it jarring for you, or are you excited for what’s to come? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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