News
Will Abu Dhabi and Paris Be The Ticket to Daytime Emmy Gold? B&B's Brad Bell Weighs-In On That & Maya's Transgender Story Twist!
Photo Credit: Gilles Toucas Photography/CBS
This week, The Bold and the Beautiful took a short time out of their hectic production schedules to celebrate and acknowledge the hard working individuals in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes who were nominated in various categories for the upcoming 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
The festivities took place on Stage 31 the Bradley P. Bell soundstage at CBS. During the celebration, executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell introduced the cast and crew who nabbed B&B 19 nominations this year including for Outstanding Drama Series. On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Bell, immediately following the proceedings to get some insight into his choice to go with the Abu Dhabi and Paris remotes for the Drama Series category at this year’s Daytime Emmys.
Bell also shared what he thought about the acting nominees from his cast and the hottest topic in soaps right now the choice to make Maya (Karla Mosley) a transgender character in a bombshell story twist that has taken mainstream and social media by storm. As Brad explains, he and his team are committed to telling Maya’s story fully.
So, will B&B have the right stuff to take home another Outstanding Drama series and writing team win this year? Read Brad’s thoughts on it all below, and exactly when he came up with Maya’s secret storyline!
Tell me about the decision-making process that went into choosing your Outstanding Drama Series submission/episodes that earned your show a Daytime Emmy nomination?
Courtesy/CBS
BRAD: We went with Abu Dhabi and Paris; we went locations and action-adventure. We went in a direction we have not gone before. So, we will see how it goes for us. I just think that it’s very much about production, and this production team we have here has risen to the occasion. They have done things that are amazing. When you look at the body of work – there are so many great performances – but, just the achievement of pulling off Abu Dhabi and Paris and doing it as well as this team is capable of doing, and having it be 2 of the 250 episodes of the year is pretty amazing. We had to put them forward for the Emmy in the Drama Series category.
What did you submit for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series that garnered you and your writing team a nomination again this year?
BRAD: Hope’s (Kim Matula) goodbye scenes, which were very touching and shot in my backyard! Our writers: Patrick Mulcahey, Michele Val Jean, Mike Minnis and I worked really hard on getting the emotional content of those episodes to where they needed to be. So did Scott Clifton (Liam), Rena Sofer (Quinn), Darin Brooks (Wyatt), and Kim Matula and the whole team. At the end of the episode, Hope just disappears.
What can you say about your Emmy nominated acting nominees … Supporting Actress contender Linsey Godrey (Caroline) and Supporting Actor contenders, Scott Clifton and Jacob Young (Rick)?
Photo Credit: MF Soaps, Inc.
BRAD: They are fantastic. Linsey is amazing. She can do comedy and she can do drama. She has been through so much personally and keeps the greatest attitude, and is such a pleasure to have on the team. Scott and Jacob are phenomenal actors. I think we have the best ensemble on the show we have ever had.
Let’s talk hot topic! The Maya transgender twist really had a meteoric hit on mainstream press and pick-up! Were you surprised by all the attention this story has gotten so quickly?
BRAD: I did not realize we were going to get this kind of traction. I am seeing it as a wonderful story to tell, and it’s a love story. But, it’s an important love story. We need to take minds that have been closed and open them up a little.
Were you at all concerned about viewer backlash to the story … that the audience just did not want to watch a story of a transgender woman?
BRAD: Yes, a little bit concerned. We are thrilled to do this story and it’s one that is very close to our hearts. We are not just filling pages. We are really behind the whole movement, and Karla Mosley (Maya) is doing such a great job.
Courtesy/CBS
When, did you come up with this idea to make Maya transgender and create this incredibly powerful and moving story?
BRAD: I came up with this on a drive to work one morning. I know the block I was on when it hit me! I was just right behind the Beverly Hills Hotel, and I almost pulled over! I thought this could be something very special, and something that we are going to dig into for months, and months, and months. It’s not icing, it’s the cake. Karla is a leading lady, and this character is front and center. We are fully committed to telling this story that will change people’s perceptions and that is very exciting.
So, do you think B&B has a great shot at winning the gold in the Daytime Drama Series category at this year’s 42nd Annual Daytime Emmys? Did you enjoy the Paris and Abu Dhabi remotes and storylines? What do you think about Brad Bell’s commitment to tell Maya’s story and that of the transgender community? Share your thoughts below!
I absolutely do NOT want to see B&B win for Series, Directing or Writing (or in any categories). The problem for me with location shoots is that they are atypical and not really what this particular show is all about – the strongest elements of B&B are the design elements and I won’t mind at all if it wins a few of those categories. Days was the best written, produced and directed daytime drama of 2014, with GH having some really great individual episodes and Y&R having 3 really good months and 9 mediocre ones (January, November and December were the really good ones). I certainly hope that B&B gets shut out of the major categories, which should go to Days and GH for their achievements in 2014.
As for the transgender storyline, I only wish they had a stronger actress than Karla Mosley playing the role ):
Karla is doing a great job!
GH and Y&R will win all of the emmys. B&B is such a boring show.
I love the transgender storyline, I just hope telling Rick doesnt take a ridiculously long time considering the threats of exposure existing. Lets not drag this out.
The transgender storyline might win Best Drama Series for next year’s Emmys! But Abu Dhabi won’t win this year. Hope’s exit was beautifully written but I also don’t think it’ll win Writing. Now, if Brad submitted Abu Dhabi for Directing then I believe they got a shot at winning!
They have always done fantastic location shoots no doubt about it when you are down to only four soaps not a whole lot of choices to choose from. Would I be upset if they won no at least 28 years later it is still family owned and not gone thru tons of head writers.
I think Heather Tom won for giving the shows for best performers not the others
I would say that the location shoots have been good, but it got tiring seeing Liam and Hope as the usual travellers: Italy, France, and The Netherlands. At least with Abu Dhabi, they gave other actors a chance to shine in a foreign land.
I didn’t like Hope’s exit. She should have had scenes with Wyatt.
Award is for best drama, not best cinematography. I would say story and acting and writing is more important for winning best drama, but we’ll see. Those shows were good. Don’t know what episodes the other shows put up.
I am enjoying the transgender storyline and Karla and Reign are doing a great job!
Rick is clueless. LOL Does he wonder why Karla doesn’t have time of the month supplies in the bathroom or closet?
“We are fully committed to telling this story that will change people’s perceptions and that is very exciting.” Bradley Bell
How is Maya’s lies and deception going to change anyone’s perception? All of this is based on lies and deception, Maya’s. She keeps saying she is proud of who she is but won’t tell the man she supposed loves more than anyone else until he proposes? That sounds more like manipulation with an agenda. Get Rick to propose…then be honest? There are viewers who do not like Maya to begin with. There is no sympathy for Maya’s lies and deception, her manipulating Rick because she has an agenda and this story has only made it worse. And, the actress isn’t good enough to carry this kind of story. Karla is a leading lady? Average, good maybe, but a leading lady, no.
This is hardly the way a transgender would want to be portrayed. Bradley Bell has never done any of these kinds stories very well and (because it is Maya) the transgender community are being unjustly portrayed. If Bell had brought on a new actress and built a relationship with someone and led up to this, it could have been a good story.
As for the locations shoots? Meh. Wasted on the younger generation where Quinn gets to be a pyscho overseas. A lot off viewers were happy to see Ridge dumped into the sea for pulling such a bonehead move of trying to run off with Brooke but that was the only benefit. It was used to build up sympathy for Ridge who should have stayed home with his fiancée instead of flying half way around the world to stop Brooke’s wedding based on a selfie no less.
The awards are meaningless. How could Bell win so many awards when competing with other shows that were not only written better but also had some really outstanding stories as well as actors who could pull it off. B&B has it’s share but it is seriously lacking in writing for those who can act, to work with. I keep hoping this transgender story ends and Bell gets something that is worth watching. And can get other viewers to even care again.
I agree with everything.
I really thought Maya was sweet and endearing when she first came to town. I really liked Rick with Maya then. Even though she thought he was a waiter, they were very sweet together. There was no gold digging. It was just an ex convict who lost more than she bargained for when she found out her child was dead.
The “pretty woman” scenes in Beverly Hills were sweet. They should have left it at that instead of making Maya so despicable.
Let’s not go all crazy here. There are only FOUR soaps let on the networks so the competition is not as fierce. The daytime Emmys for the dramas have become laughable.
I wonder if there are people from the United Arab Emirates on the board now. It was nauseating enough to listen to the butt kissing of Abu Dhabi when the scenes aired. “Oh it’s so beautiful, yada, yada, yada.” Give me a break. A country built on oil money is sickening.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award nominations kicked-off on Monday with the announcements of four major categories including, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series — Actor, and among the nominees is General Hospital’s Steve Burton (Jason Morgan).
Burton is already a two-time Daytime Emmy winner in the Supporting Actor category for his roles as GH’s Jason and his turn as Dylan McAvoy on Y&R. However, Steve is yet to win in the Lead Actor category and he has received 11 nominations along the way in his daytime career.
Following the reveal that he is a 2026 Daytime Emmy nominee, he and his GH co-star, podcast co-host and comedy show partner, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) taped a special edition of their That’s Awesome podcast just featuring Burton’s reaction to the news.
Photo: JPI
FOR LESLIE CHARLESON
Steve expressed, “I know it’s such a cliche to say, ‘I’m just so honored to be nominated.’ But truly, I’m so grateful to be nominated, so grateful to just be on the show off and on for 30 plus years and to be nominated with the guys in my category. Just to get the opportunity. Frank (Valentini, executive producer, GH) texted me right away. I was just like, ‘Thank you for the opportunity to get to do what I do.'”
Taking in the moment, Burton thanked those who helped him select the material for his nominated reel. “Unless you win, you don’t get to say things. So. I’m going just say a few things: Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) helped me a lot with the material, (as did) Michelle Henry, who’s a producer on the show, Laura Wright (Carly, GH), and then my wife Michelle (Lundstrom). I believe it was Jill Phelps who told me that when A Martinez felt like he had a great show or great scenes, he would mark it down. So, when Emmy time comes, you have all the show numbers written down, and you don’t have to think about it, because that’s half the battle (finding the material).
Burton explained how meaningful this nomination is for him, because of playing the scenes of Jason losing Monica, and his closeness with the late, great Leslie Charleson.
“The nomination’s an amazing thing, and it’s beautiful, but really it’s to honor Leslie Charleson. A lot of my material was because of her, and how I started on the show as a Quartermaine, it just means a ton,” shared Burton. “Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) has obviously has been instrumental, and I’ve said it from day one and I’ll shout it from the rooftops. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here, and to be working with the people that we work with is incredible.”
Photo: JPI
SHOULD JOHN OLIVER BE NAMED HOST OF THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
During the end of his conversation with Anderson, Steve suggested that the host of the Daytime Emmy should be Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver, who recently guest starred as the head of the WSB named Z on General Hospital, and is soon to show up on Days of Our Lives in a mystery role in August.
Thus far, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has not revealed their host for the upcoming ceremony to be held on October 30 in a venue to be named in Hollywood, California.
You can watch Steve sharing his reaction to receiving his 2026 Lead Actor Daytime Emmy nomination below on a special segment on the That’s Awesome podcast.
Now let us know, are you glad that Steve chose scenes surrounding Jason mourning the loss of the woman that raised him, Monica Quartermaine for his Emmy reel? What do you think of John Oliver as a suggestion to host the Daytime Emmys? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.
Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.
Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Marks Unprecedented 16,000th Episode Milestone with New Cast Photo
Today’s Monday, July 13 episode of General Hospital marks it 16,000 episode to air on the ABC television network. It is a remarkable milestone. The previous television record was held by Guiding Light which clocked in at 15,762 episodes before it went off the air on CBS in 2009.
To mark the occasion, the cast, crew and creative team of General Hospital celebrated with a cake-cutting ceremony on the Prospect Studios lot in Los Angeles back on Monday, June 1, 2026.
In addition, GH has released a new cast photo taken the day of the on set celebration. Pictured in the photo are front row: Rory Gibson, Finn Carr, Kayden Brenna Tokarski, Asher Antonyzyn, Giovanni Mazza, Braedyn Bruner, Dean Geyer and Nathan Dean.
Featured in the back row are: Tabyana Ali, Eden McCoy, Josh Swickard, Kristen Vaganos, Rebecca Herbst, Dominic Zamprogna, Alexa Havins, Cameron Mathison, Brooke Kerr, Cynthia Watros, Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Jane Elliot, Maurice Benard, Laura Wright, Maura West, Donnell Turner, Nancy Lee Grahn, Tanisha Harper, Kelly Thiebaud, Kristina Wagner, Lynn Herring, Chris McKenna, Katelyn MacMullen and Sawandi Wilson.
In addition, the official GH social media handles shared these sentiments along with some other photos from the cake cutting: “Today’s episode of General Hospital is the 16,000th produced since the show’s inception in 1963. It’s a milestone we couldn’t let pass by without taking some time to celebrate as a family (and, of course… eating some cake). 🍰 We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.”
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE 16,000th Episode?
The 16,000th episode will feature Jason Morgan returning to the town of Port Charles, Anna and Valentin (James Patrick Stewart) reuniting, and a new surgeon, Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) joining the staff of ‘General Hospital.’
GENERAL HOSPITAL HOLDS SEVERAL RECORDS
Now in its 64th year, Emmy Award-winning daytime drama General Hospital is currently both the longest-running scripted American drama and the longest-running American soap opera currently in production.
General Hospital holds the record for the most Outstanding Daytime Drama award wins, taking home the prestigious Daytime Emmy Award a record 18 times. Will they do it again and make it 19 in 2026? Stay tuned for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations tomorrow on Tuesday, July 14 to find out if GH will be going for gold in the category, once again.
The ABC daytime drama series was created by Frank and Doris Hursley and premiered back on April 1, 1963. Frank Valentini is the current executive producer with Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten are the show’s co-head writers.
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and streams on Hulu.
What do you think of the new cast photo marking General Hospital’s 16000th episode? What do you think of the accomplishment to have that many episodes of a television show and its still thriving and kicking? Share your thoughts and congrats for everyone in front of the camera and behind the scenes on this milestone airing.
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor Drama Series
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‘The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards’ Nominations Announcement Date Revealed: Who Will Be Going For Gold?
Randolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ and ‘Loving’ Actor, Dies at 80
Steve Burton Returns to ‘General Hospital’ on Its 16,000th Episode: How Will Jason Be a Changed Man?
‘Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026’ Live on the Michael Fairman Channel
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
GENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers Promo: Jason’s Back, Drew Begins to Make His Move, Portia Goes Into a Labor
Scott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Daphne’s Devastated, Steffy Finds Herself at a Crossroads with Finn
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