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.

Previously on General Hospital, Esme Prince caused so much trouble for Spencer Cassadine (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) until the character went overboard and was presumed dead back in January of 2024.

Esme’s portrayer, Avery Pohl was heralded by GH fans as one of the great young baddies in recent memory. And now, Pohl is taking her talents to the new Netflix series, and joining the Scooby-Doo universe in an undisclosed role in the upcoming show, Scooby-Doo Orgins!

News of Pohl’s casting came via Deadline when they revealed 12 actors joining the upcoming live-action series which also includes notables: Sara Gilbert (ex-The Talk and The Connors), and Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), plus previously announced, MacKenna Grace (ex-Faith, The Young and the Restless) who plays the central role of Daphne Blake. Tanner Hagen takes on Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson plays Velma Dinkley, Maxwell Jenkins  is Fred Jones, and even Paul Walter Hauser also appears in a secret role, and not to be left out, Scooby-Doo himself.

Courtesy/ABC

ZOINKS, RUH-RO AND JEEPERS!

Avery Pohl took to her Instagram upon the reveal of her new project and said, “Dog’s outta the bag. So grateful to work with so many talented and kind individuals.” Immediately many of her former GH castmates congratulated the actress including: Tabyana Ali and her predecessor in the role of Trina, Sydney Mikalya and Eden McCoy (Josslyn).

According to the official loglines for Scooby-Doo Origins, its a, “Modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”

The series, which introduced supernatural mystery-solving teens Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers and their talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo, originally aired on CBS from 1969-76. It then moved to ABC, where various versions of the show aired until 1986. The Scooby-Doo franchise has also released three movies more than adozen animated series, and over 40 animated home entertainment movies.

WILL ESME PRINCE RETURN TO GH?

Pohl received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2025, in the Outstanding Guest Performer category and initially debuted on GH back in 2021.

In case you missed it, Avery participated in a livestream chat last year along with GH’s Katelyn MacMullen (Willow) and their acting coach and soap alum Holly Gagnier (ex-Days, GH, and OLTL) on the Michael Fairman Channel. You can check it out below.

Now, share your congrats for Avery on landing her upcoming role in ‘Scooby-Doo Origins’ Let us know, if you hope GH brings back Esme one day and Spencer Cassadine via the comment section.

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Sheri Anderson, the three-time Emmy-winning soap opera writer is set to be the special guest on Thursday, June 11 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm ET for a livestream chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

The veteran soap opera writer has previously been the co-head writer at Days of Our Lives along with an impressive list of writing credits and tenures at: General Hospital, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light, Another World and primetime’s Falcon Crest.

Throughout her decades long career, Sheri has been involved in every aspect of the writing process including long-term storyline, daily episode breakdowns, dialogue writing and editing and more. She is widely recognized as one of the creative forces behind the high romance era of soap opera super couples in the 1980s.

Photo: JPI

ARE SOAP MORE RELEVANT IN 2026?

With the daytime soaps being mentioned in the mainstream of late, including a recent New York Times essay, Ryan Gosling’s high praise of Days of Our Lives icon Deidre Hall (Marlena), Late night host, John Oliver asking to be cast on a soap after doing a bit on his show, it seems daytime drama may be culturally relevant again, or is it really?

During the chat not only will we get Sheri’s takes on all the series she wrote for, but also ask, “Why soaps? Why now?” Why are audiences rediscovering/missing emotionally-connected storytelling? What did our genre provide viewers emotionally? And what has current programming gained technically but lost emotionally?

Join us with your comments and questions for Sheri in the live chat, as we talk the pros and cons of today’s daytime soap opera and daytime television landscape and delve into Sheri’s soap writing history and the characters she created or had a penchant for and learn about her new endeavors and outside projects.

Photos: JPI

If you are unable to make it to the live chat, but have a question or comment for Sheri that you would like us to ask on the broadcast, please drop it in the comment section below and we just might pose it on-air.

For upcoming celebrity features, livestreams and special event coverage, make sure to subscribe to the Michael Fairman Channel.

So, did you enjoy Sheri’s writing for Days of Our Lives and the other soaps she’s credited for? What do you think of the current state of the soap opera? Healthier than its been in awhile? Costing along? Relevant or not socially relevant in mainstream culture in 2026? Weigh-in and share your thoughts via the comment section below.