News
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Brad Bell and Oliver Bell Talk How Making Microdramas and Soap Operas Can Coexist

The burgeoning world of microdramas is viewed by many as the modern way approach to watching romance novels and soaps opera come to life; right on your phone in bite-sized episodes that you can scroll through.
The Bold and the Beautiful’s Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer) and his son, Oliver Bell (producer) have opened the doors to B&B’s Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Hollywood, to not only film episodes of the long-running CBS daytime drama series, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next March, but are now utilizing the space to produce and film new verticals for the recently launched aTwist platform.
As previously reported, Brad and Oliver recently founded Red Flair Entertainment to enter in the microdrama space and have released their first series Hollywood Starlet and have also completed its season 2. The series stars vertical leading man Eric Guilmette, plus Molly Anderson, Bella Mraz, Skyla Lynne and Michael Teh.

Photo: CBS
THE BUZZ AROUND MICRODRAMAS
Speaking with the L.A. Times, Brad Bell compared the vertical space to the world of daytime drama: “I’ve been doing soap operas my whole life, and it felt like there’s been a buzz about microdramas, and it really felt like a natural extension to the stories that we do. (On soap operas) we build two cliffhangers usually on Fridays to keep the viewers over the weekend. Here, you do it every couple of minutes. It’s like speeding up the dance routine, but it’s really right in our lane of soap operas.”
Brad gave kudos to Oliver for coming up with the idea in the first place to produce microdramas. “I saw this unique format and was fascinated by it,” Oliver shared. “I noticed some areas that we could quite easily improve on.”
The 24-year-old recalled how he quickly became addicted to microdramas while in college, so much so, that he wrote his dissertation at the University of St Andrews in Scotland on soap operas and microdramas. After graduating last December, he and his father founded Red Flair Entertainment with Oliver serving as an executive producer and Brad as a producer.

Photo: IMdb
SOAP OPERA VIEWERS VS. VERTICAL DRAMA VIEWERS
Both Bells feel microdramas are the new step in soap operas, especially for the younger audience and demo, that no longer, for the most part, watches long-running dramas. Oliver added, “In a way, microdramas are just the natural evolution of the soap opera. You could kind of trace the legacy through that and the modernization of serialized TV.”
Meanwhile, Bead Bell spoke to how these short-form stories can reach those who might be challenged to jump into a soap with decades long history and story, especially in the fast-paced short-attention span world which we live. while Oliver explained, “It’s like cracking open a book, and it’s hard for people to get into it to learn the history. So having smaller, bite-sized pieces is appealing to us.”
So far, two seasons of Hollywood Starlet have been shot when The Bold and the Beautiful has dark weeks at Sunset Las Palmas Studios. In fact, season 1 of Hollywood Starlet’s 45 episodes, were shot in six days at the start of summer, and in the fast pace world of vertical drama, less than a week after the series debuted on aTwist, the team was already back working on the production of season 2.
Brad Bell believes both worlds can live with each other side by side. That soap operas will not be overtaken by microdramas, because their appeal while having some similarities. attract those who can jump right in and follow along and are scrolling on their phones.
“Coming into someone’s living room or bedroom, soap operas were almost like an extension of their family that they can count on for years and decades with the same actors. The same families that have watched since day one,” explained Bell. “It’s a different type of viewer for microdramas.”
So, have you check out microdramas yet? What do you think about how Brad and Oliver Bell are creating stories in this new wave of entertainment while still churning out episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful? Are you thumbs up for vertical dramas or thumbs down? Do you enjoy both formats or never checked one out? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Most boring soap opera on TV
One day, if B&B is still on the air, Oliver Bell will take over for his father, just like Brad took over for the late Bill Bell. I wonder if his writing will be worse than Brad’s, because Brad is certainly a downgrade from his father.
The vertical microdramas look contrived, ill-developed and very cheap. I do not see the appeal.
I watch them. They are pretty interchangable and use the same the gimmicky format every episode but in terms of gimmicks that’s no different than daytime. Think of it as fast food vs home cooked meals. Or the LA soaps vs New York soaps. The Bells are correct though they are here to stay and will only get bigger.
Bold and the beautiful is boring
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Who Winds Up Hitting the Sheets First? Jordan and Michael or Curtis and Monet?

After today’s Friday, October 9 episode of General Hospital, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard) informs Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner), that not only is she Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) half-sister, but the best damn lawyer there is to get him out of spending the rest of his prison sentence in Pentonville. Does he believe her?
If Monet can come through, would Curtis look at her in a whole new light, especially since his girlfriend, Jordan has headed to Europe with Michael (Rory Gibson) to visit the burn clinic to restore her face and remove the scars that have plagued her since the car accident with him?
It appears GH is ready to shake-up the couples and the romance on the long-running ABC soap opera. We already know Tanisha Harper previewed that the series is trying out the chemistry between Harper and her GH co-star Rory Gibson, and that Michael and Jordan might explore their burgeoning feelings for one another since both currently work together at Aurora Media, and understand what the other went through following horrific sets of circumstances that left them scarred.

Photo: ABC
As for Monet, she would like nothing more than to stick to her sister as their is still a deep troubled history between the two yet to be fully revealed. It would seem Monet would love to flaunt a relationship with Curtis. And knowing Curtis, he will be so eternally grateful to Monet for helping him gain his freedom that this might be a possible scenario. But the question becomes, who cheats on who first?
Do you think Jordan and Michael hook-up while away from Port Charles? Does Monet take advantage of Curtis, if and when, he becomes a free man? Does Curtis already sense Jordan pulling away from him but is keeping that inside, or will this all come as shocker if he were to learn Michael and Jordan have become closer?

Photo: ABC
While much of this is speculation, it does seem like the trajectory of the storyline; given that Michael’s recent love interest Jacinda (Paige Herschell) was written-out of the story, and it appears that Serena Baldwin (Kelly Kruger) is now being put in the romantic path of Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).
GH spoilers for the week of October 12-16 indicate that on Wednesday, October 14, Michael reflects on his past, while on Thursday, October 16 Monet advises Curtis.
So, do you think that Jordan hits the sheets with Michael, and Monet and Curtis will hook up? Or, do you think it will all be a giant tease? If it becomes true, who would you be rooting for to end up together? Any of them? Let us know in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Rachel Boyd on the Return of Sophia Choi as She Makes Her Way To Salem: ‘I Wanted Her to Come Back Stronger Than Ever’

Next week on all-new episodes of Days of our Lives, the Peacock streaming soap opera will pick right back up from where Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) has tracked down a very much alive, Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) in a diner in Kentucky. But what will happen when Sophia returns to her old stomping grounds of Salem?
In official spoilers for the week of October 12-16, look for Kristen to make a deal with the woman she supposedly killed, and by week’s end for the once-conniving Sophia to make her way back to Salem. Meanwhile, in a new interview with TV Insider heralding her return, Rachel Boyd, who did a tremendous job with Sophia’s original exit story, explains how she thinks this version of Sophia will be different than the last.
The exit story had Sophia setting out to kill Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) by a demand made by Kristen DiMera. Sophia failed to end Johny’s life and Kristen lured Sophia to the bridge and clunked her over the head with a rock and pushed her over the rails to the steely waters below.

Photo: Corday Productions
Sophia’s body was never found, but she was declared dead. At the time, Boyd thought Sophia might be ‘dead-dead’ but in soap opera’s and especially Days of our Lives, nobody really ever truly dies!
WHAT’S DIFFERENT WITH SOPHIA CHOI COME FALL OF 2026?
Reflecting on her first run, which featured many an emotional scene, Rachel recalled: “As crazy as some storylines can be, working on a soap opera is truly a boot camp in acting because you’re given one take and you have to tackle really hard circumstances.”
Those dramatic circumstances included: “Giving birth in my bedroom alone, penning a suicide note, or even attempting to murder someone by blowing him up are all things a younger version of myself would be so intimidated by,” expressed Boyd. “But I learned that preparation is everything and as long as I do the hard work before I show up to set, then I am capable of it.”
Rachel ended her first run back in December of 2025, but due to DAYS tape schedule, the character of Sophia “died” five months ago on episodes on Peacock. Once she returned to the set for her second-go round, it was all systems go. “It was more like being thrown into the deep end, which honestly worked for me. I enjoy working under pressure and with momentum.”
The actress hopes viewers will see the internal change with the character as things move forward. “I knew I wanted her to feel distinctly different,” she explained. “I’ve always tried to keep the character constantly evolving and changing as she experiences new things and responds to trauma. But now that the audience hasn’t seen her for months, I had a great opportunity to fill in those blanks for myself and come back in a whole new way.”
DAYS fans should really began to notice the change on next week’s episodes. “I wanted her to come back stronger than ever,” admits Boyd. “Now that she’s survived a near-death experience and kept herself alive and hidden for six months, this version of Sophia is going to be much more independent and a fighter. I can’t say exactly what is going to happen, but as long as Sophia’s alive, chaos will follow!”
So, are you glad that Rachel Boyd is back as Days of our Lives Sophia Choi? What do you think she will do once she gets back to Salem? Turn a new leaf or be back to her scheming ways? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Fall Preview: Michele Val Jean Reveals Twists and Turns in Fairmont Crest, Teases New Faces

Beyond the Gates continues to be the buzzy and noteworthy soap opera as it heads deeper into the fall. With 15 Daytime Emmy nominations (a record for a first-time nominated show), the action on-screen has been just as exciting as of late.
Now, series creator, head writer, and executive producer, Michele Van Jean teases what viewers of the CBS soap opera can look forward to in the months ahead and into 2027 with TV Insider. Val Jean clarified that the show is already written into April of next year with new faces joining the cast down the line.
Michele shared, “As we go down the journey with The Articulettes, that path is going to lead back to (their manager) Dante Green. So, we’re going to be seeing him eventually. It’s not imminent because we write really far in advance, but you’ll be meeting Dante Green. And then we have a female robbery/homicide cop that’s going to come onto the canvas eventually.”
DANGEROUS, DUPLICITOUS AND DEADLY
While that’s a bit down the line, here’s a few tidbits for a few of the core characters happening soon; starting with the matriarch and the patriarch of the Dupree family, Anita (Tamara Tunie) and Vernon (Clifton Davis). ”
“They’re going to steer their family and community through some troubling times,” explains Michele. Adding, “Anita will get to make exciting moves in her music career as we started to see with The Articulettes, but she’s going to meet with some unexpected obstacles along the way that will test how much she really wants this. Vernon will not be afraid to take serious measures to protect his family and bring down anyone who threatens them.”
Speaking of “serious measures to bring down anyone who threatens the Dupree family,” let’s find out what’s in the future for Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings): “This fall, she will be brilliant, beautiful, and cold as ever. She’s definitely not done scheming, and she’s not done with Bill, I’ll tell you that,” assets Val Jean. “She’s good at making bad situations work in her best interest, and we’ll get to see her do plenty of it.”

Photo: CBS
HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE
As for Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) and Andre Richardson’s (Sean Freeman) marriage, trouble ahead! Michele explains “She’s (Dani) going to find her marriage and herself in danger and be forced to make some severe decisions. And Andre’s secrets will catch up to him in the worst way possible as Heather closes in to make good on her threats.”
Meanwhile, Dani’s sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) makes inroads with her relationship with Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). However, Val Jean warns by year’s end,”Her (Nicole) world will flip completely upside down in a way no one sees coming, including her.”
Finally, the warring brother sister duo of Joey (Jon Lindstrom) and Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) will get even more intense and fraught. According to Michele, “Joey will wrestle with the reality that his sister is not who she used to be. And as Heather sinks her teeth further into the community, she’ll go to new despicable lengths for chaos and control, but she may not get the last laugh. You’ll have to watch it.”
So, what are you looking forward to the most this fall on Beyond the Gates? What is your favorite storyline right now? When the soap opera casts the character of Dante Green down the line, and a new female cop, who do you think would be a great fit for the roles? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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