‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Shocks Fans With Spectra Surprise and We Have the Inside Scoop
Q&A
She’s back! Well, sort of. Fans of CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful were treated to a head-shaking twist at the end of the January 31 episode when a young redheaded woman—brand new to the audience—signed a check with the name “Sally Spectra.” As longtime viewers know, that was the name of one of the soap’s most popular characters—a flamboyant rag-trade matron, played by Darlene Conley from 1988 to 2006, who’d do anything to get ahead in the fashion world. So why is this new gal using Sally’s name? Turns out she’s totally entitled to it! TV Insider got the exclusive scoop from B&B’s head writer-exec producer Bradley Bell.
So what’s going on in your mad mind, Mr. Bell? Explain what we just watched.
Well, with B&B having its 30th anniversary on March 23, I’ve been thinking about ways to play into our great history. We always need new, fresh characters that pack a punch and no one packed more punch than Sally Spectra. So we’re bringing back the Spectra gang.
But how? Darlene Conley passed away, and so did Michael Fox, who played Sally’s wise old tailor, Saul. And then you killed off Schae Harrison’s character, Darla, who was Sally’s daffy assistant. Who’s left?
This will be Spectra, the next generation. We’re going to reveal that Sally has a sister, Shirley Spectra, and we’ve given the part to [Days of Our Lives vet] Patrika Darbo. I’ve known Patrika for years and have always wanted to work with her. The new Sally we just met on air is the original Sally’s grandniece and Shirley’s granddaughter. She’s played by Courtney Hope (Transparent), who brings a terrific energy and a really interesting edge to the role. We also cast this wonderful young Broadway actor, Alex Wyse (Spring Awakening), to play Saul’s grandson, also named Saul. And the new Darla will be Darlita. That role went to Danube Hermosillo (Modern Family), who is hilarious and has a lot of dimension. All four have an incredible comic timing. I’m so excited about this group! We’re going through some rough times in our country and our world right now. We could use some escapism and levity, and that’s exactly what this new Spectra gang will provide.
What’s their back story? Are they in the fashion biz?
They want to be, desperately. Our new Sally has hopes and dreams of being a designer. The old Spectra Fashions brick warehouse is about to be hit by the wrecking ball—Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) wants to tear down the building and put up a skyscraper—but there’s a Hail Mary pass. We’re bringing back Mick Cain, as Sally’s son C.J., who owns the building. Mick has no interest in the fashion business but now he has a relative who is hot to give it a shot, so he’s going to let young Sally have the building for six months. She has very little time to make a go of it, but this is her opportunity to make Spectra Fashions shine again. And the original Sally is backing her from afar.
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That’s right. You kept Darlene’s character alive.
Even though we lost Darlene, I always felt the character was bigger than life and that she should live forever. And she will. She’s still out there somewhere—traveling to exotic places, having her cocktails, surrounded by her boy toys. And we’ve come up with some cool ways to make her a part of this new story.
Will this gang be as conniving as the old one? They were always stealing designs and designers from the Forresters.
They will definitely play dirty. Young Sally wants this company to be legit but, right away, the decks are stacked against her. As with a lot of people who come to Los Angeles with lofty ambitions, reality will come crashing down. Both she and Shirley come from nothing. Shirley, who worked for years in a bakery, raised Sally when her parents flew the coop, and together they’re a tough, determined team. And they’re broke.
They don’t seriously think they can take on the Forresters, do they?
[Laughs] Well, not yet! But they will provide a marvelous contrast. You know, as time goes on, all our characters on B&B have turned into millionaires. Even Katie Logan (Heather Tom) is living in Beverly Hills now! The new Sally will be a sharp change from all the refined, sophisticated socialites on our show. The Spectras will be a much more realistic group, and they’ll introduce a whole bunch of relatable issues and real drama, along with the comedy. Let’s put it this way: The Foresters are champagne. Sally and her bunch are wine in a box!
For more exclusive details on the new Spectra gang, and a chat with the Emmy-winning Patrika Darbo, check out the February 13 issue of TV Guide Magazine!
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G
Best shit ever bout time we mixed it up, get Thomas over there designing for spectra!!!!!
17
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C
Thomas is such a whiney sissy anyway. Good riddance if he did go...I wish he's leave the show
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R
That could be fun, he could do it to spite Ridge.
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G
Me too!
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O
I love this! I miss Sally so much and can't wait to see the wacky hijinks this crew gets up to. It adds a much missed dynamic to the show.
7
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C
It's not Darlene Conley though, so it will not be the same. I don't know why people think this is a good idea. You can't IMITATE genius.
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R
Yeah! It hasn't been funny in a long time!! I've been watching since day 1 and today I was reminded of why I kept watching..Sally Spectra!
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O
AGREED!!
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O
That's kinda fun, I thought there was something going on when Eric randomly was reminiscing about Sally last week.
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C
This is great. Bold and Beautiful needed a boost.
3
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R
Im excited about this! B&B has been missing something since the Spectra years
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P
Idea is great, but reusing the names is really effing weird.
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C
Forrester needs to have a rival company. Aren't we ALL tired of the "higher than thou" attitude. Bout time they bring back Spectra. Thomas reminds me of Thorne, went to Spectra with Sally when he was overlooked.
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G
We need clarke!
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P
This is a fantastic twist that I cannot wait to see unfold on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Much better than the never-ending love triangles!
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C
I wish they would just let Sally Spectra die. She can't live forever! Traveling to exotic places, drinking cocktails surrounded by boy toys is ridiculous! Sally is AARP status! Bell, you killed Stephanie and her granddaughter Alexandria! WHYYYYYYY!!? You could've been explored this Spectra angle along time ago but you and your idiot writers were too busy recycling storylines over and over and over and over..........! I digress cause nothing will save this stupid show. Darlita?? So dumb AF!!
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O
And yet here you are so obsessed with B&B that you rant about letting the show die. See? You're really still interested. 😉
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C
I AM!! I believe B&B still has potential to be great again like it use to be! Only if it were written by SMART imaginative writers. LOL!
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O
I couldn't have said it better!!! It's ridiculous and I feel like an idiot for watching it! I guess after all these your much my husband was right. Soaps are stupid now. This one definitely ha are stupid now. This one definitely is!
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G
It would be nice if Thomas would move over to Sally side because they're always mistreating him at Forest of creation they're doing Thomas the same thing they did with thorn
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B
Finally something to look forward to on B&B after years of terrible Liam triangles, glad Brad is getting his act together at last. Now all that's left to do is fire Frank and Jelly from GH and bring in a good team and we'll have 4 good soaps again!
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C
I have been watching B&B since the first episode and I love this. I was getting a bit tired of the ongoing love life of the brothers and Stephie and Hope, although I do miss Hope. Bring it on.. B&B die-hards will all be thrilled with Sally Spectra back, albeit her niece.
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C
I wish that whiney Liam. Would leave show
2
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O
Me too! I can't stand Liam! Steffy should have stayed with Wyatt
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R
Agreed.
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R
Wyatt is way hotter than Liam, anyway!!
2
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G
Along with more common sense than Liam. He let go of Steffy with more class than Liam would ever dream of. Liam whines over everything. Bill skipped on Liam's level of maturity & sent it straight to his older brother. Wyatt will always love Steffy, yet he gave her what she wanted. Reassuring Liam insecurities is a full time job!
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R
They also killed off Sally's daughter, Macy. But I guess this is better than coming up with a crazy reason for her not to be dead and bringing Bobbie Eakes back to the show. Or even suddenly giving Macy a long lost twin sister.
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O
I would love to have Bobbie Eakes back. But at least one original member from the Spectra days will be back for a bit; CJ Garrison (aka Mick Cain)
5
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O
I would have loved for Mac to be alive. Love Bobbi
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P
This is just the best news EVER! The whole dynamic between Forresters and the Spectras is what drove most of the show during the 90s. Im so thrilled Patrika is coming on. She is dynamite, and i hope her caracter will not be to far away from Nancy Wesley(atleast how she portrayed her the first couple of years).
1
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O
I wish Hope would come back on the show.
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R
Darlita? Are you kidding? That is ridiculous Mr. Bell. Are there no original writers/story lines any more? Your show 'jumped the shark' when you created the Hope/Liam/Steffy/Wyatt debacle. Let the show die a dignified death and move on.
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G
That's exactly what they're going to do B&B is always full off romantic triangles. Steffy and Liam will get their five minutes until they bring another young lady for the Spencer brothers to fight over!!
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O
Oh, sure it's ridiculous! And it's great; perfect in fact. 🙂 The Spectra clan used to give B&B its wonderful comedic situations and moments. "Darlita" plays exactly into that; it makes me smile already!
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O
is she trans? the new sally that is.
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G
does anybody know what song that was that was playing when everybody was on the boat at the beginning of the march 23 episode I have tried everything including Shazam and I cannot find it
please help me!
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R
B&B Sally in the airplane, wasn't that couple the same ones that were on the plane before, I think with Lauren?
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G
I have been watching B&B since the first day it aired and throughout the years I have excepted the repeat story lines of Brooke and Taylor and now Steffi and Hope and Liam and Wyatt but this whole new Sally Spectra repeat thing B & B has gone too far. I'm done with the show it's ridiculous it's stupid and it's been done. I love the original Sally but this new one is ridiculous and I'm not watching anymore. Makes me sad but I'm sick of seeing the same old story. Similarity is one thing but when you keep rewriting the same exact script with the Saul and Darla aspect it's just too much goodbye for B&B forever!
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G
The girl playing sally spectra looks like Phyllis on young&restless
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C
That grandson of the late Saul Feinberg is the spitting image of his Grandpa...this is gonna be interesting!
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P
After seeing their first few episodes this week, I think I like this. I'm a relatively new-ish B&B viewer and I was not watching regularly during the original Spectra years, so it's fun for me to get caught up. It will be a nice change of pace from the whiny and horny Forresters!
I only hope Brad actually showcases this group consistently and doesn't waylay them like he did the Avants, Caroline and Maya.
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B
Sounds awful
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R
I really think 'Darlita' is way too much.
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R
This was not the overhaul I was expecting when i was just thinking the show needed one a few weeks ago, the sillines is about to ensue...
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C
The Bold and the Beautiful hit a grand slam with this. I think it's gloriously brilliant. I liked Sally 2.0 from the minute she interacted with Thomas. Two thumbs up.
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G
Finally some lifr Lets hope its not just for short period because they are losing fans I don't know who I'd like to see young Sally with Thomas or Wyatt Wyatt be better match because Caroline somewhrre with saidvkid he'll always whine a bout Thomas is born whining complaining brat Hes not done enough to be CEO designed few dress ran to NewYork for months Just comes goes whines as he pleases Hes not type to run business he'd ruin it So glad for new story line
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O
Well not impressed so far with this storyline. Darlene Conley was one of a kind. Having the same names of Sally and Saul and Darla changed to Darlita. PLEASE!!! Just a repeat storyline of fights between Ridge and Thorne, now with Steffy and Thomas. Not impressed Bradley Bell !!
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O
Yay for Spectra!! I'm so glad that CJ was on there and hope to see more of him and Spectra!!
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O
I love that you are bringing back the "Spectra" gang...What a tribute to Darlene Conley and remember all her antics with her crew..and cried the day she passed on Jan 14th, 2007...
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R
I should have known you sheep would eat this up. Even though it's basically taking the names of beloved characters and rebooting them in new incarnations. It's essentially saying 'We don't have Darlene Conley so we'll just replace her with imitators'. It disgusts me. And YOU ALL disgust me for falling for it.
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O
Woohoo! Finally something to look forward to on B&B! I'd never given up hope for the return of Sally Spectra, and this looks like the next best thing. Just imagine, there might actually be new storylines with comedic relief and ones that don't involve B&B's oh-so-overdone, never-ending and boring series of near-incestuous love triangles!