Interviews
The Don Diamont Interview – The Bold and the Beautiful
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
The lip-smack heard around the world on The Bold and the Beautiful, had a vulnerable Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Bill (Don Diamont) giving into their attraction to each other, albeit for a minute. Soon the reality and the gravity of what they had done would come back to bite them! You see, just as soon as Bill and Brooke headed home to Los Angeles there was previously MIA Katie (Heather Tom), who had vanished due to her post-partum depression, waiting for her husband! Now what was Bill going to do? Or … Brooke for that matter?
On-Air On-Soaps caught up with daytime heartthrob Don Diamont to get his thoughts on this latest wrinkle, which could eventually cause a seismic shift in the relations between the Logan and the Spencer families! Meanwhile, Dollar Bill had been up to his neck in manipulations in his attempt to keep ex-girl-on-the-side Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) happily married to his son, Liam (Scott Clifton), and away from Liam’s true love, Hope (Kim Matula)! Now that much of his machinations have been exposed and caused havoc for his family including Caroline (Linsey Godfrey), Diamont has been at the story forefront painting a rather complex side of Mr. Spencer!
But while there are big changes on-screen for soap veteran, Diamont, over this past summer, there were big changes in Don’s personal life. Don married his long time girlfriend, Cindy Ambuehl, in a romantic ceremony outside of Monte Carlo surrounded by his sons, castmates and friends, and as you will read, it was a magical time for his family. And, family means everything to Mr. Diamont! Here now is Dandy Don!
MICHAEL:
When you got the scripts that said, “Bill kisses Brooke,” or “Brooke goes to look for an MIA Katie with Bill,” how much of the story did you know? When Ronn Moss (Ex-Ridge) left the series, did you know that this is what was going to happen?
DON:
Courtesy/CBS
I had an idea that we were going to move in that direction.
MICHAEL:
The reason I ask, is that the last time we chatted you had said you think Katie and Bill are a great couple, and this new romantic entanglement could lead the viewers now questioning who to root for!
DON:
I do think Katie and Bill are a great couple and I love working with Heather Tom (Katie). I think it reflects in our work. Although, if Heather hated me, it would still be as good. (Laughs) But I don’t think that is the case, but having said that, we still went through the Steffy period, and that was challenging for Bill and Katie. As this story progresses with Brooke, I am sure it will present its share of challenges, as well. My feeling was that it has to be a real love story that has to develop with Bill and Brooke, as he has a real love story with Katie. But, it has to be a real love story, and they have to be driven together and not an overly contrived fashion. It is Bill’s sister-in-law, and Katie is Brooke’s sister. Given Brooke’s history, that whatever story gets told, it has to be very compelling that would push these two people together that would otherwise not go anywhere near that.
MICHAEL:
The groundwork was laid out very well for Brooke and Bill to share that kiss. Brooke was frantic to find Stephanie’s engagement ring that she gave to Brooke shortly before she died. Bill was then the one to find it and hand it to Brooke. There was symbolism in all of that for the future, for sure, and then … BAM … they kissed!
DON:
They both were in very vulnerable places. At that point, as far as Bill knew, post-partum depression or not, Katie wanted a divorce. She did not want to be a mother to their child, and she in her own right, wanted a divorce.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
Next, Bill and Brooke head back to the Spencer home after Stephanie’s passing, and lo and behold …. there was Katie! And your face in the scene was priceless!
DON:
Yes, there she was! (Laughs) You know, Heather and I had talked about playing this scene. Bill was and is conflicted. He would be conflicted even if nothing had happened with Brooke. Katie was back and like, “Oh, I am back, and everything’s wonderful and it’s all good.” No it’s not! You left and put us through a very difficult time. Bill obviously was not aware of the ordeal Katie was going through, and that made this more difficult as well. So, add to that, the feelings the Katie helped create – the feelings he now shares with Brooke – and obviously it wasn’t, “Katie’s home and everything is great. Oh, joy!”
MICHAEL:
So is Bill buying the post-partum depression from Katie as the reason for her checking out on him and baby Will? Is he Ok with that?
DON:
He is many things, and idiot is not one of them. So yeah, he gets it, but it still makes him feel like he is on unstable ground now. So here is who I thought she was, and yeah, the post-partum depression was a big part of this. But, is there more going on here than that that is going to potentially rear its ugly head? She is not the same person Bill thought he married. It’s unsettling for him and he is not sure what to do.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Gilles Toucas
He wants to be a father to baby Will, right? This is his chance to be a dad after missing out on years raising his other son, Liam!
DON:
No question. He loves this baby.
MICHAEL:
One can assume this will cause conflict with Liam down the road, because he was Bill’s first born son?
DON:
I would imagine once Will is an infant and goes to boarding school and returns as 17 (laughs), I would think down the road that two male Spencer’s would be a great story to tell! Will would be the golden child, for sure. I would guess Will probably will be molded more in Bill’s image. I already suggested putting a sword around his neck! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
Yes! They need to cast a little Don Diamont who looks like you! In real life, you are a father to a ton of boys! (Laughs) There isn’t one person we have ever met who knows you, who does not say you are the best father.
DON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I try. Being a dad is something I always wanted to be. When I was a kid, I had valued my relationship with my dad, and I lost that pretty young. I wanted that and I thought it was very important.
MICHAEL:
You finally got married to your long time sweetheart, Cindy Ambuehl, over the summer. How was the wedding?
DON:
We went to Rome, Venice, and Monte Carlo. The wedding took place June 12th in Eze, which is this magical storybook medieval city. It was perfect. As I said, because we had waited to get married, the boys were older, and we all had many years together. So, a lot of our collective life experiences were brought to bear. It was very much like we all got married. It was very emotional for everyone. Cindy walked out, and Luca, my eleven year old, just started crying. Let me tell you, I was having to hold everyone up at my own wedding! (Laughs) My son Alexander made a speech on behalf of all the boys, and he got emotional and everyone started crying.
MICHAEL:
I remember chatting with you and Cindy on the red carpet at B&B’s silver anniversary party! She was so funny and charming.
DON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Cindy is hysterical; she has an amazing sense of humor. She is a very funny. When she was still acting comedy was her real passion. She had two sitcoms, and she had guest-starred on every sitcom from the 90’s: Seinfeld, Frasier, Wings, and on and on. She looks like she does, and is hysterical on top of it. She often brings me to tears and I beg her to stop because I am laughing so hard that I am doubling over in pain. And on top of that, she is gorgeous, brilliant, a hard worker, and an amazing mom … and she puts up with me! (Laughs).
MICHAEL:
This role as Dollar Bill Spencer seems to be the defining role in your daytime career. So many of your peers feel that you really “pop” with this character. Would you say that you have really immersed yourself in this role, like none other?
DON:
What happened on Y&R and the way it happened was difficult, and when Brad Bell (B&B’s executive producer and head writer) called it was a job, so that was great. So when he described the character to me it was over the phone, but then we later sat down and he told me he had created this character for me. I just immediately understood and knew Bill Spencer. I was able to create a life experience in my head for him, and had just a great give-and-take collaboration with Brad. He gave me the outline for this guy, and he gave me the “ball” and the freedom and trusted me. I felt that from him. Brad expressed to me that he had very high hopes for the character and that he created other leading male roles over the years for this show that were not so successful. I promised him that I would not let him down. In creating Bill, I was able to bring some elements to me that are right there and other elements that we all have that are smaller parts of who we are, and parts of your personality that you handle; like Bill is quick to temper. I, Don, am not so quick to temper, so you bring that, but it’s there and you bring it more to the forefront. I relished the opportunity to bring Bill to life. I thought this is an opportunity to bring a unique and dynamic character to the show. It is my job to make him complex, contradictory, and a Type-A person.
MICHAEL:
When I talked recently with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) she was saying, “Oh God, I don’t want Brooke to be paired with another man so soon after Ridge.” And … here Brooke was kissing Bill! Did the two of you have any talks about that and address any concerns?
DON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
No. We did not really talk about it. (Laughs) I think her concerns were the same as mine and Heather’s; that the integrity of all concerned not be comprised. We will see how this plays out as we move forward.
MICHAEL:
What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you think Katie and Bill can come back from anything and endure it as couple? Or, do you think Brooke is a real spoiler and threat to their relationship?
DON:
I think where Katie is at now is not good, especially if they can’t come to a meeting of the minds. Bill feels this is not the Katie that he married. This is a person living in fear, as opposed to this wallflower of a person that had all this stuff within her that he saw and yanked out of her. Bill made her more in his own image. Then, Katie became more of a powerhouse and a go-getter. That is not who she is right now. She is strong in other ways, but not that person. We will see how it unfolds. I think it’s great story.
MICHAEL:
There will probably be at least 327 episodes to come now of Brooke and Bill looking longingly at each other, with nothing advancing! (Laughs)
DON:
I don’t read facebook, or the blogs, or Twitter, just because I don’t want to know what people’s opinions are, or what the reactions out there are. I just like to do my work and do my thing, and not let it be colored by opinion … everyone else can do all that. I don’t really know what the reaction of Bill and Brooke is at this point.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
From the reactions we have seen, the fans are more disappointed in Brooke because she just apologized to Stephanie for her behavior with all the Forrester men and taking them from her. Then she kissed Bill, and to many it made her look bad.
DON:
She thinks Katie is gone at that point, and that Katie wants a divorce. Brooke is dealing with her own vulnerability of the Ridge situation and losing Stephanie, her best friend. I think moving forward it’s important that Brooke fights against whatever feelings clearly she has for Bill, and genuinely tries to make Bill and Katie work things out in their marriage.
MICHAEL:
B&B’s first on-screen same sex couple: Joanna Johnson (Karen) and Crystal Chappell (Dani) were back for a short-arc after Caroline’s “accident”. What did you think about the way Bill handled the reveal of his sister’s sexuality?
DON:
Who would have expected that Bill would respond that way, and be OK with his sister’s sexuality? I was glad that he responded in that way. It was very important. I said from the very beginning, “Bill is probably very Republican with his wallet, but he is very liberal in his social views.” He does not care who sleeps with whom. Bill is not about that … Jewish, Gentile, Muslim, Gay, Straight… he doesn’t care. If you mess with him, no matter what you are, you are in trouble! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
Photo Credits: L Bohm & K. Hutchins
Would you like to see the show delve more into Karen and Bill’s brother-sister relationship and dynamic?
DON:
I like our scenes, and I like our dynamic. Crystal is great, too. I liked the scenes with Crystal where he is thinking, “Oh, yeah. She is into me. C’mon! You’re telling me, I don’t know when a woman is interested in me?” I thought it would be kind of funny, if Crystal’s character was finding herself into Bill! (Laughs) That would have created a riff between Bill and his sister, Karen.
MICHAEL:
What do you think of Bill’s sudden alcohol “problem”? And is it really a problem? Or, do you think he will get this under control?
DON:
He doesn’t have anything to get under control. It’s not a problem. Bill is not drinking any more or any less than he ever was. Bill really sees it more as Katie having a heightened sensitivity since having gone through her recent near death experience, almost losing the baby and her post partum depression.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
Everyone in town is furious with him: from Hope, Caroline, Liam etc. How was it to play all of those heavy confrontational scenes? Bill even got so upset that he “stabbed” himself with Liam’s little dagger charm on his necklace! Is he unraveling?
DON:
Confrontation plays right into Bill’s wheel house so that is a non-issue. There are certain things that Bill certainly doesn’t like being challenged about but he is always up to the task. I relish the opportunities to play those scenes. Those kinds of scenes get your juices flowing. Lastly, as the audience found out, Bill did not actually stab himself.
MICHAEL:
One day Bill will get shot by any number of suspects, and they can do a “Who Shot Bill?” whodunit! Of course, Bill lives though it! (Laughs)
DON:
You mean like Dallas’ “Who Shot J.R.?” This would then be “Who Shot B.S?” (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
Well … Bill did have a part in the machinations that ruined Hope and Liam’s chance at happiness that inevitably pushed Liam into the arms of Steffy!
DON:
Courtesy/CBS
Bill got Deacon out of prison to throw an emotional wrench in Hope’s world, and then that would hopefully stop the wedding from happening. Deacon showed up in Hope’s hotel room while she was getting ready for the wedding. However, Hope and Liam did get married, as Bill had made clear. Hope showed some emotional fortitude and Bill respected that. He did welcome her into the family, and he meant that. It’s not his fault that the wedding wasn’t legal, and that they neglected to take care of the paperwork. It was really on Rick. Rick was the one who created the problem, and that has been Bill’s position this whole time.
MICHAEL:
Were you on set for Susan Flannery’s (Ex-Stephanie) farewell party day?
DON:
As I said to Susan, my first episode was with her and that meant a lot to me. Bill being introduced in scenes with Stephanie brought gravitas to Bill right off the bat. It was an honor for me to work with her, and to start out what I hoped would be a nice long run here. I valued my scenes with Susan. The first eight weeks I was on the show that story arc revolved around Stephanie. I worked with her quite a bit. I have so much respect for her as an actress and as person, and it was really wonderful for me. I was glad I got the time with her that I did. The entire send-off was beyond well deserved. If anyone deserved that kind of send-off, both in story and in terms of the party we had here, it is Susan. My hats are off to Brad Bell for all of that. I give Susan a lot of credit too for giving Brad the opportunity to send her and the character off in the manner in which she he and Susan deserved.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Gilles Toucas
In closing, do you want the audience to like Bill, hate Bill, or ultimately both?
DON:
Interesting question and nobody has ever asked that. I think that both are the answer. I think Bill is very entertaining and a likeable hard-ass. Even though he gets in his own way, genuinely he believes he is doing the right thing. The commitment to his family is clear. I think there are some people out there who love to hate him, and some who love him, and some who want to be Bill! It’s all of that. But overall, I think he is very entertaining, and coming up he will be smack dab in the middle of a huge firestorm with the women in his life.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)
On General Hospital, as Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) has launched a music career alongside Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza), it was recently revealed that she actually has what seems like an “obsessed” stalker! How do we know? Well, there is a collage of the young woman that said person is continuing to add more photos to as the weeks and months roll on.
There have been several obvious suspects in the way GH has presented the characters. Chief among them music executive, Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) who continually has made statements and has been shooting daggers at anyone getting in the way of his prized recording artist.
At the same time the stalking started, Kai’s friend and former college football teammate, Quinn (Jequan Jackson) showed back up who previously had a falling out with Trina. Might he be playing nice, but wants revenge on Trina?
Photo: ABC
KEPT IN THE DARK
Fast-forward and now General Hospital fans learned that two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills is on her way back to the show as Heather Webber, who previously was known as”The Hook” killer at one point, and is the biological mother of Trina’s sworn enemy, Esme Prince (last played by Avery Pohl).
Esme perished went she went overboard with Trina’s boyfriend, Spencer Cassadine (last played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) a few years ago into the steely waters below. Could Esme be the one obsessing over Trina, or could it be someone else completely?
In a brand new video interview out on Tuesday, September 29, Tabyana Ali visited You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel and weighed-in on who she thinks could be the culprit! However, Tabyana shared she actually has no idea who it actually will turn out to be.
“The crazy thing is that everybody knows who it is except for me! They’re keeping that secret from me,” revealed Ali. “They want me to be as oblivious as Trina.”
Courtesy/ABC
THOSE WHO WENT OVERBOARD AND PRESUMED DEAD
After looking over the potential suspects and with all the theories that have floated about, Tabyana had her top picks! “I would love for it to be Spencer. I would love for it to be Esme. Mostly because I also just want my friends back on set, too. I would love to just see them and hang out with them. I think it definitely could be one of those two,” speculated Ali.
“I think everybody thought it could have been Quinn, or could have been Simon. I think we were all pointing in that direction for a minute, but I thinks that’s too easy”, declares Tabyana. “I think they’re just trying to throw me off, and trying to make it seem like it’s one of them. Now, nobody told me one way or the other about them.”
As soaps go, it’s usually not the first string of suspects who turn out to be the actual person behind the stalking. Tabyana agreed, “If you just know writing in general, if you just know TV in general, if you know soaps in general, you know that’s a game. You know, they set up, set up, set up, and then they really show the reveal. So. I was like, ‘This is just the setup to the reveal, right?'”
As for it being Spencer, it may not because his motives are bad. Ali shared, “It could be Spencer trying to fight his way back to Trina, or Heather trying to get revenge for her dead daughter Esme, or Esme herself. Those are all good ones, I was also playing around with what if it’s Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober)? That would be kind of fun. Don’t know what his motive would be. I know he passed away. He’s dead because of Joss (Eden McCoy), but it’s like everybody comes back alive on soaps, so…”
Photo: ABC
FROM KAI WITH LOVE
Some fans theorized it could be Trina’s boyfriend, Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) or one another option being that the real stalker takes him out. “I think that’s kind of happened to all of Trina’s boyfriends,” lamented Tabyana. “They’ve all kind of gone that way. So, hopefully it doesn’t happen that way. Would it be easier if Kai was the stalker? Okay, yeah, maybe. He’d go to jail for a couple months or whatever. Come on out and then what? He would had to have had a brain-eating amoeba that made him do it. Who knows?” (Laughs)
In the end, are Trina and Kai truly in love? Ali shared her viewpoint and gave a tease, “I think they have love for one another, but to love someone it does take gradual time. I think it’s getting to that point. I think with this music situation as well, it is really proving to Trina that Kai is willing to be there with her every step of the way.”
She continued, “He is supporting her 10 toes down, making sure that she has everything that she needs, to going to every live show. I think this portion of their lives will definitely guide them somewhere else. I think, an ‘I love you,’ might come just around the corner.”
You can check out the full conversation with Tabyana now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.
Then weigh-in, after hearing Tabyana’s thoughts on the matter, who do you think will be proven to be Trina’s stalker? Let us know via the comment section below.
Interviews
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan) is heading into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys next month with a chance to win not one, but two gold statuettes to add to her collection of six!
Heather is once again a nominee for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, and for the first time a nominee as part of B&B’s writing team in the Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series category.
Currently, Heather is tied with One Life to Live icon, Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) as the actresses with the most wins in Daytime Emmy history. An acting victory by Tom would break the tie, although Slezak’s wins have all been for Lead Actress, while Tom literally grew up before our eyes over 35 years in daytime, and has won in all three actress categories: Younger, Supporting and Lead.
Photo: JPI
Whether Tom wins the gold this year, next year is looking even like stronger lock with Heather delivering some of the best work of her career, over the last several months. Who can forget Katie’s showdown with her sister Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) over the creation of her own fashion house named Logan, that slap from Brooke, and eventually being disowned from the Logan family by Brooke and their sister, Donna (Jennifer Gareis).
This fall, Katie is in full momma bear-mode and being overprotective of her son Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) heart and pocketbook. In story, Katie has a massive distrust of Melissa Dylan, who has made her move on her son, while Will is still trying to deal with the break-up with the love of his life Electra Forrester.
During a live chat this week on the Michael Fairman Channel, Heather opened up on a myriad of subjects, including why Dylan gets under Katie’s skin in such a major way, and what scenes earned her a shot at Lead Actress gold at the October 30th Daytime Emmy ceremony.
Photo: JPI
HEATHER TOM’S DAYTIME EMMY SUBMISSION
In daytime, Heather Tom does it all, she acts, directs and writes for The Bold and the Beautiful. When deciding what material to submit for Emmy competition with its eligibility rules of episodes from 2025, it relayed heavily on scenes with her longtime B&B scene partner, Don Diamont (Bill Spencer).
“I submitted material having to do with the Luna (Lisa Yamada) storyline and having to do with Katie and Bill. I love that Katie and Bill have been really trying to find their way back to each other for, honestly, five years. He’s been trying to woo her back. Katie’s been like, ‘No.’ However, they come together, especially over their son, Will (Crew Morrow) and they have a very real relationship-type of discussion. It wasn’t an argument. It was more about, ‘I know you. Don’t do this.’ That’s always kind of been Katie’s relationship with Bill. The scenes with Don Diamont were about Katie and Bill’s history, the pain, and the drama, and especially about their son, seemed very familiar to me.”
Heather added, “There’s also a couple scenes with Will and Luna, when Katie finds out that Luna is pregnant. Katie was like, ‘Nope! Our son is having a baby with somebody, and we’re going to figure this out. We’ve got means and the ability to do this. I don’t care if we have to take this baby away from Luna because she’s crazy, we’ll figure it out.’ They were some really good scenes that I felt very proud of. I thought to myself, “OK, this is Katie really taking a stand for her son, and having these conversations with Bill where I just felt they were real and honest.”
In conclusion to standing by her choices of scenes, Heather explained, “It was nice to see Bill and Katie operating as a parental unit and have her be like, “Yep, we’re not doing this. You know, you can’t force Luna to do anything, so let’s just figure out how we’re dealing with this.” Katie was kind of the adult in the room. Then, the scenes where Bill says to Katie, “You have to come back to me and I need you,” while Katie shed a few tears, she still didn’t take him back, not yet.”
Photo: JPI
DYLAN BROKE THE ‘GIRLFRIEND CODE’
There are specific reasons why Katie has it out for Melissa Dylan. In fact, Dylan went so far as to get her mother Darcy Dylan to town to shut down Katie’s suspicions of her, but it still isn’t swaying Katie away from her stance on the matter. Heather revealed how she is playing the scenes.
“So, here’s the deal. It’s multifaceted,” began Tom. “This girl pushes Katie’s buttons. She reminds her of her sister, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), and what Katie’s going through with her sister right now is very unpleasant. I think she looks at this girl and says, “This girl is going to crawl over anyone to get what she wants. And right now, she wants my son, and she’s willing to throw her best friend (Electra) under the bus.”
Heather also said, “Honestly, there’s something known as the ‘girlfriend code.’ Would you like to know what the girlfriend code is? ‘The girlfriend code’ is if your girlfriend, who is also your best friend, dates a guy and is especially in love with him, it doesn’t matter if you break up, that guy is off limits. You need to find yourself another guy.”
KATIE’S TROUBLES WITH BROOKE AND DYLAN MAKE HER TAKE A STAND
Katie clearly draws a similarity to her sister Brooke and Melissa Dylan which is also driving her attitude, which Heather confirmed. “So to Katie, it’s like Dylan broke that code. She is someone who follows her heart just like Brooke and leaves carnage in her wake,” said Tom.
She continued, “I think Katie looks at her and goes ‘Okay, one, you were living in your car. You didn’t call your mother who clearly loves you and ask her for help, but you were more than willing to take help from this, lovely rich guy.’ I think Katie feels like the fact that Dylan has been so expressive of how in love she is with Will, I think she finds that a little weird. She’s telling him that she’s e in love with him, and he doesn’t say it back to you. So, clearly he’s in not in love with you.”
In story, Katie can’t trust a young woman, who knows her son doesn’t feel the same way about her and yet is still hanging around. Heather shared Katie’s viewpoint to Dylan: “He’s clearly in love with your best friend. So, isn’t it a little unsettling that she kind of keeps saying she’s in love with him? So that’s my multifaceted reason why Katie doesn’t like her. It really has nothing to do with the fact that she came from humble beginnings because Katie did too. That being said, the Spencers are billionaires, so she would have to also look out for that. However, I don’t think that’s the main reason why she doesn’t like this girl or doesn’t trust her. I really don’t.”
You can check out the full conversation from our livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel below.
Now let us know, are you rooting for Heather Tom to win the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? What did you think of the scenes she submitted? Will Katie be proven right about Melissa Dylan, or will her distrust blow up in her face and she will wind up respecting Dylan when all is said and done? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Interviews
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)
Kelly Sullivan made her triumphant return to daytime on recent episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in her new role as Darcy Dylan, the mother of Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock).
In story, Melissa, better known as just “Dylan,” phoned home to her mother to come to Los Angeles, in an effort to calm the waters with Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) nosy mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), who doesn’t trust Dylan one iota.
Soap fans remember Sullivan from her previous Daytime Emmy-nominated role sas Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri on General Hospital and as Sage Warner on The Young and the Restless. During a livestream conversation exclusively on the Michael Fairman Channel, Kelly spoke about her time on GH and Y&R, and the wonderful co-stars she shared the screen with, and her excitement on her brand new role on B&B.
Photo: JPI
As to her thoughts on if Darcy will ultimately prove to be a gold-digger, opportunist, but still has a heart of gold (as we saw in recent scenes with her daughter, seemingly), Sullivan explained, “Characters like Darcy can be dangerous. I think Darcy is a survivor and she can charm. She’s a flirt. She knows what she wants. Darcy is self-made, according to her, and she made it.”
THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN DARCY AND HER DAUGHTER, MELISSA DYLAN
However, Melissa plays a big role in what’s next for Darcy! Kelly explained, “She’s got this beautiful daughter and that was her entire life who is now making her way. Let me tell you, I don’t know what Darcy’s retirement plan is, but one would assume she doesn’t have much savings. This is a great opportunity for her to connect with her daughter and get the lay of the land.”
Finding out that Melissa has been dating Will Spencer from the rich and powerful Spencer family in Los Angeles, while initially a shock, could prove interesting if the mother/daughter were to work together for a common cause, their survival.
Sullivan explained, “Darcy’s all about the tabloids and all about this life of illusion and the haves and have-nots, essentially. She would never shy away from an opportunity to see what’s around the corner. I think the interesting thing for me, that I’m excited about is to explore the dynamic between Darcy and Melissa and what is that going to become?”
From all accounts, Darcy is here to stay in Los Angeles, and fans will see much more of Sullivan on their-screens. “Darcy’s not going anywhere”, confirmed Kelly. “I always said to Sydney Bullock, Darcy didn’t buy a round trip ticket. If you think about it, Melissa could be her ticket. She might be Darcy’s only hope. There are serious stakes here if Darcy has been waiting for this moment.”
Photo: JPI
SHARING SCENES WITH HEATHER TOM
Last week, Sullivan had her first on-screen confrontation with Heather Tom. In the scenes, Katie was disapproving of Dylan and let Darcy know it. Eventually, Darcy takes Dylan with her to leave Will’s beach house apartment, but Will stops Dylan.
Recalling the taping of the scenes, Kelly said, “Heather Tom is a real special artist. In the story between Katie and Darcy, you’ve got momma bear and you’ve got momma bear. You can’t fault either of these women for how they feel, and how protective they are of their children.”
There are many things viewers and perhaps the writers have not totally fleshed out about the Dylans. Are their Dylan sisters coming, or to be revealed to rival the Logan sisters? Who is Melissa’s biological father? Plus, some more nuggets as Kelly revealed.
“I think there is a juicy, juicy story there of the Dylans,” previewed Sullivan. “It would also be interesting if they decide who Melissa’s dad is. Who is that? I mean, that’s interesting. You know, when I auditioned for this role, it said on the page that the character was charming, from the Midwest, and dance skills a plus. and I was a Broadway dancer. So, I hope this means there might be an opportunity to dance on the show at some point.”
Photo: JPI
DARCY DYLAN AND WYATT SPENCER PAIRING?
As for the men on the canvas, Kelly was asked what she thought of a potential Darcy and Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) pairing? To which she responded, “That would be so much fun. I’m such a fan of Darin’s work. Oh, I would have a ball working with him. One of the things that really excited me about Darcy when I was coming into audition for her was that they said that they wanted her to have a comedic sensibility, comedic chops as they said it.”
Sullivan concluded, “To work with Darin, I would be so lucky. He’s such a great actor and he’s got great comedic timing and he’s just really present and phenomenally talented. He’s a great actor, so I would love that. I mean, anyone on the show would be really fun. You throw it at the wall (in daytime) and say, ‘Is there a thing? Is there something here?’ Chemistry is chemistry.”
Now below, and in case you missed it, you can check out our full video livestream chat with Kelly Sullivan below.
So, what have you thought of Kelly’s performances thus far as Darcy? Do you think Darcy will turn out to be an opportunistic woman, but who deeply cares and loves her daughter, or will it turn out to be a ruse? Would you like to see Kelly paired with Darin Brooks on-screen as a love interest, and who do you think truly is Melissa Dylan’s biological father? Weigh-in via the comment section.
‘General Hospital’s’ Tanisha Harper on the Future of a Jordan Ashford and Michael Corinthos Pairing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Honors HBCU Tradition with Banneker University Homecoming Episodes
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos and Gains More Viewers Week-Over-Week
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
Judith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Lulu Tells Charlotte Everything That Could Have Happened to Her With Drew
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Is Sonny Being Set-Up For the Beatdown of Curtis and Sidwell? If So, Who is the Real Culprit?
‘General Hospital’s’ Nancy Lee Grahn Marks 30-Year Milestone as Alexis Davis; Co-Stars Share Heartfelt Video Tributes
-
Beyond the Gates1 week agoRATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos and Gains More Viewers Week-Over-Week
-
Days Of Our Lives20 hours agoREPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
-
General Hospital1 week agoAlley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
-
News6 days agoJudith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
-
Beyond the Gates5 days ago‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
-
News3 days agoY&R Alum Thad Luckinbill Cast in New Thriller ‘Copperhead’
-
News6 days agoMatthew Atkinson Reveals New Project ‘Into the Wilderness’
-
General Hospital1 week agoTHIS FRIDAY: ‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali to Drop Music Video for Her Single ‘Pray’
I would love for you and Steffy to fid your way back to each other, what do you think about that?
cause they truely deserve each other, thats why bill fights so hard to keep steffy near, he wants her but is with katie so next best thing give er to his son, just keep it in the fam right dolla bill
I love Don. When he was on YR, and love him on BB more! His character is basically good.. But he is all man! So good to look at too, so that sure doesn’t hurt. 🙂 I can see lots of chemistry with Brooke. In spite of her history. That’s life in the soaps! I agree with Bill about Hope too! I don’t like her with Liam! It actually surprises me how much I dislike her character. I am sure she is a lovely person. So credit for my dislike is given to the writers. 🙂
It’s so refreshing to see Don so vibrant on B&B after his Brad seemed to diminish over many years on Y&R. B&B is like daytime’s answer to Greek mythology, and Bill Spencer is a formidable god. Of course, we can love and hate him at the same time. His sexiness counterbalances the absolute jerk that he is. He’s both bold and beautiful! Without Don in the role, I don’t think we’d get that complexity. It’s compelling, to say the least. So glad to see this talented guy not going to waste.
we want Bill & steffy together!
I absolutely LOVE Bill and Steffy as a couple. Those two were so hot!!!!!!!!! What were the writers thinking breaking them up!
I soo love the Bill Spencer character, when he appears on screen i find im holding my breath just waiting to see what will happen next. Don – you are wonderful to watch, keep it up!
Love Brooke and Bill together
Bill’s heart belongs to Katie, Brooke or Steffy won’t change. Bill always “has” feelings for another woman when feels hurt, abandon or betrayed by Katie. Does Anyone See a Pattern Here?
I meant Steffy and Brooke won’t change this!
I have been watching b&b and y&r for 20yrs. I think bill and steffy looked good together! hope and liam should have 1 more chance without anyone messing with em. steffys plane should crash and she would lose the baby.
i totally agree
There are other less dramatic ways to lose a baby then a plane crash. Most pregnancies don’t make it through the first trimester because the baby isn’t meant to be in the first place.
I love to see you on B&B Don, you are so goodlooking!!!!! You also have a very beautiful wife & family, so proud of you!! Keep on doing your thing we love YOU!!!
I would love to see Bill, Karen & Dani in a storyline. The possibilities are endless. Dani could go nose to nose with Bill in business and be all protective of her family at the same time. $Bill & Dani Warfare will be an opportunity missed if it is not explored.
I love Don & Bill. However, the Steffy/Liam/Hope triangle is soooo tired. Stop. Please. I honestly don’t even care who Liam is with anymore. They can all go fly a kite for all I care. Is he the only hot, rich, available guy in LA? C’mon, B&B you’re killing me with this!
I loved Brad on Y & R. I despise Bill. The only woman on B & B that deserves him is Steffy. They are both just a like and deserve each other.
I love DD and loved Bill until he decided to change his thinking of Brooke. Not only is Brooke the sister of Katie, she just turned Bill into all the other men (cough) on the show. I’m not a huge fan of Katie’s nor do I want Bill with Steffy (prefer her with a new hot guy) but Bill was the man you loved to watch because he meant business. Sorry, but Brooke brings him down and I don’t think we’ll see the man that Bill was when he originally showed up.
Next thing, he’ll be giving Brooke his FC shares. Very disappointed where Bill is headed.
disagree, finally an exiting storyline with the Bill and Brooke forbidden romance instead of everydays of the old Hope/Liam/Steffy triangle, so so played out, they try to recreate Brooke/Ridge/Taylor triangle we get it but it is not the same..Steffy although a dynamic character is not tornado Brooke Logan and Ridge had far more sex-appeal, charisma than Liam back in the day..i would say Hope is less dull than Taylor but Taylor was particularly gorgeous back in the day, Hope is just pretty..so not the same..i am not sure it can endure years like old school Brooke, Ridge, Taylor were able to do..so giving a front burner story to exiting and charismatic characters like Brooke and Bill would be a good move ! Heather Tom is a great, charismatic actress although Katie can be boring..(she was so much better as Victoria, a far better character imho, it is like the reverse for Don with Brad and Bill characters, Bill is so much better than annoying, obnoxious, boring Brad !) so i say Brad Bell : Brooke/Bill/Katie triangle GAME ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, but there is nothing exciting about seeing Brooke act like a hoe who can’t keep her hands off her relatives significant others once again. Not looking forward to another boring triangle.
Lily I agree Don Diamont’s statement about the character of Brooke keeping integrity. What a joke and just for the record KKL wants to be front and center all the time the show has and still is a snoozefest.
Love Don As $ Bill
BILL IS HOT,BROOK IS HOT,LET;S SEE SOME FIREWORKS WITH THEM….
yep finally an exiting story, makes me want to watch ! Yep scandalous, soapy, forbidden, sexy, they have chemistry so go go Brooke and Bill, write this story Bold and Beautiful, we want to be entertained !
Am I mistaken? Isn’t the actress who plays Carolines mother , the same actress who was Ridges wife/lover years ago ? I think she died of cancer? Im sure its the same woman! and her name was Caroline, too! Help me please, figure this out!!!
Yes, the actress is the same one. And yes, Caroline of years ago did die. The actress is playing Caroline’s twin sister Karen.
Ridge had married Caroline many yrs ago, she was his one and only. Then she got leukemia and she died. I don’t recall if we (audience) knew she had a twin sister at that time, but she did appear a few times through the years as Karen after Caroline died.
I want to see real drama! I want to see Bill and Steffy and Liam team up Hope! I want Hope to wigged out! I also want to see Bill tell Katie that he don’t want to be her no more because she not woman enought and Bill and Brooke go on vaction I want to see it all.
Bill and Brooke : exiting !!! We want to see that Brad Bell, don’t stop this story for pete’s sake, i began to watch again this soap with this direction, hep you want triangle alright..write a Katie/Bill/Brooke triangle and give us a break from Hope/Liam/Steffy triangle.
I wish the story line with Liam , Hope, and Steffy woul change up Liam can never make up his mind who he wants, Hope is so immature. I hope Steffy just leaves him standing.
Ugh. So many comments complaining about storyline … to Don Diamont mostly … especially after he said he does NOT read these comments.
Thank you, Michael, for another amazing interview. I have really grown to admire Don Diamont from his Y&R days. It is just a shame how poorly things went there after all those years, but he must have a little bronze statute of Brad Bell on his mantel because that man has really given him something! He is about as front burner as you can get for a half-hour show. I’m so happy for him.
I’m also happy that he and his longtime lady love finally got married. It must be weird to be together all those years and then actually be married. It was like that for me after I was with my boyfriend for 9 years and we got married. It is kind of surreal.
I could care less how the story plays out as long as the show keeps it as real as a soap opera can meaning that the characters keep their integrity and the direction is believable.
DD pimps which ever storyline than can keep him front burner
More and more, as Dollar Bill Spencer on B&&, Don Diamont TRULY ROCKS!!!!! Also, more and more, the Brooke/Bill/Katie love triangle has been so wonderfully well-written and all…so far. And, Dollar Bill himself is so wonderfully BAD-ASS…LOL!!!!! Looking back on it now, I now realize and understand as to why Bill tried to break up Liam and Hope (and more than once, too). Liam acts like such a whiny and lovesick MORON and Hope’s wholesome and Puritan-like behavior is BEYOND ANNOYING!!!!! And don’t even get me started on Taylor…who is WAY TOO MUCH of an annoying and meddling busybody!!!!! One final thing: BELATED CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Diamont and Cindy and their getting married last year. Don and Cindy…CHEERS!!!!!
I love Don always!! I dont care who he be with as long its not with NASTY BROOKE!! i LOVE THAT MAN EVERYTIME i SEE B&B
I love bill&brooke together this is the only reason I watch.katie treated bill like a child telling him what he can do and what to do.now she is using his son to control him and I don’t like that, too many woman today are doing that, do what or you can not see your child.i want to see bill and brooke grow old together.i would like to see more passion with bill and like I did with brooke and ridge I loved to see them make love it was so hot.