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!