‘The Bold and the Beautiful’: EP Bradley Bell Talks Thorne, Maya, Sheila and More
Shocks. Defections. Politics. It’s all happening on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful—behind the scenes! Exec producer and head writer Bradley Bell is here to answer our burning questions.
Your decision to recast the legacy role of Thorne with General Hospital star Ingo Rademacher was a jaw-dropper. What’s your thinking?
I’ve long admired Ingo’s clean and honest acting style. He also has real power that I needed because Thorne is coming back to the show to challenge his brother, Ridge [Thorsten Kaye], for Forrester Creations and for the attentions of Brooke [Katherine Kelly Lang]. He’s sick of being Ridge’s little brother and sick of the oppressive regime Ridge has been running. Thorne is fortified for battle.
What makes him so confidant? Thorne has never been an alpha dog.
We’re going to find out that he’s been working with Forrester in Milan and Paris and learning from the great designers of Europe. He’s been putting pen to paper himself, so he’s moving right into Ridge’s territory. At first, he wants to be a part of the team but, upon hearing about Ridge’s indiscretion with Quinn [Rena Sofer] and the ongoing disrespect Ridge has for Eric [John McCook], it motivates him to take Ridge on—fully and wholeheartedly.
Does he have Eric’s support in this?
He’s going to work for that support, and for everyone else’s support. He will point out that Ridge is only looking after his own kids. It’s all about Ridge’s line of the family and he wants the other people who’ve done so much for the company—Rick, Brooke, Katie—to be recognized. It can’t be the Ridge and Steffy Show anymore. Thorne has been through a lot of mourning and soul searching after the deaths of his wife and daughter and he’s come out of that with a newfound purpose and direction in life. He’s seen how fragile life is and he’s going to make the most of the time he has left. No more being reactive. Now he’s proactive.
How is Brooke feeling about Thorne’s return? They were once married but, compared to Ridge and Bill (Don Diamont), he’s fresh meat.
Brooke is thrilled he’s back! Thorne is such a nice, decent guy, especially in contrast to Bill. When Brooke and Thorne were married they were like best friends. He’s so easy to talk to. There’s no question there’s still an attraction.
Your two young leading men—Pierson Fodé (Thomas) and Rome Flynn (Zende)—suddenly up and quit. Will you replace them?
I have no plans to recast either role. When an actor leaves, it can really strip your gears but I will be bringing in some new characters. And we might see some favorites from the past. Casting is in progress.
So no Thomas means no Caroline?
That decision has yet to be made.
If you aren’t going to recast Zende where does that leave Nicole?
Reign Edwards has been busy with other projects [including a recurring role on MacGyver] but I love working with her. She’s incredibly talented on every level.
No promises, then?
I think Nicole still has great potential but it’s either recast Zende or they have a big blowup and Nicole comes back to LA with Zende in her rear-view mirror. I’m still wrestling with that one. I love writing for the whole Avant family. The actors are all so excellent and committed. I hope we can continue with these characters moving forward.
Maya (Karla Mosley) arranging for Nicole to work outside the country seemed highly manipulative, if not downright wicked. Was that the old Maya showing her teeth or just your way of working around the Zende problem?
We are not going to see Maya revert to her evil ways. Yes, she had underlying concerns that Nicole was too bonded to the baby, but Maya was just being protective of her family. A lot of people thought we’d play the story that has been told many, many times—that of the birth mother not being able to separate herself from the birth child.
But we thought that because you started to play it that way. Are you saying you didn’t?
Maybe Maya did orchestrate Nicole out of the country but she put her in a posh apartment in Paris and gave her and Zende great jobs. It was a terrific opportunity for Zende to further his career at Forrester International. I don’t think there was anything evil about it. It might speak to Maya’s underlying insecurities, but it was nothing horrible.
There’s a bigger Maya issue we should address—namely that she’s been pushed to the back burner and lot of fans are unhappy about it. She’s a landmark LGBTQ character and one of your crowning achievements. What gives?
I’ve come up with probably 20 [story] ideas but haven’t found the right one. We got great story out of Maya being transgender, and now she has transitioned into a happily married woman with a child and a wonderful life who has been accepted completely. That’s a great flag for her to carry until the next big story comes along—and I’m proud of it. The ultimate triumph is that she fits right in with everyone else.
Maya’s husband, Rick (Jacob Young), is also lost in the shuffle. Shouldn’t he be a power player?
Rick will also be inserting himself because he, too, has been pushed to the side at Forrester. There’s a revolution coming and it will involve Rick heavily.
You’re headed toward a sex dalliance between Bill and his daughter-in-law Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). Why on earth would Bill do this to his son, Liam (Scott Clifton)—especially after almost killing the kid in that building implosion?
Bill runs his life like a mob king. He sees no boundaries, which is great for accumulating wealth, but that can really get in the way of the family. He and Steffy will immediately regret what they’ve done. They will feel very guilty about it. [Bill] does not think it’s OK to take his son’s woman, but there’s an undeniable connection between Steffy and Bill. He has feelings for her. She loves Liam but finds Bill fascinating, now that she’s been able to spend more time with him. Both men are sexy and alluring. It’s a story of darkness and light.
But Steffy siding with Bill seems really out of line here. Where is this coming from?
She thought Liam went too far in blackmailing Bill and recording his confession about the arson. That didn’t ring right with her.
But Bill committing arson did ring right?
Steffy is a rebel. She’s always been our biker chick, the one who is feminine and sophisticated and poised on the outside but a rough-and-tumble tomboy on the inside. She can excuse Bill’s behavior more easily than Liam can. This helps us get to know Steffy a bit more, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t true to Liam. Her commitment is to Liam and that will remain.
Explain this budding Sally-Liam romance. What does Sally do for him that Steffy doesn’t?
Steffy was born with a silver spoon in her mouth while Sally provides a cause for Liam. He fights for the underdog. He wants to support this woman who is doing everything she can to make it in the fashion business. Liam loves that Sally is independent and scrappy. He’s her white knight. He loves to play that role.
Do you think your new Spectra clan has been a success?
It takes a while to establish a family but, yeah, I think the Spectra group has been a great hit. Every actor in the group is spectacular. They’ve provided us with a necessary element for drama—the have nots. You can’t have a show with all wealthy people.
Where are you going with Wyatt (Darin Brooks) and Katie (Heather Tom)? Will this sex buddies thing turn into something more?
This has been a very surprising story. I know it certainly surprised Heather. She said to me: “I’m in lingerie every day and I love it! I only wish your father would have written this story for me on Y&R—when I was 20!” She and Darin are a lot of fun to watch. They have developed a wonderful charm and humor in their scenes, and they’re great kissers. I don’t know, does there have to be more? Why can’t we just have a couple who are friends with benefits? We’ll continue to explore this open relationship and celebrate a couple with no boundaries and open minds. It harkens back to the early years of Y&R where that show had relationships with no strings—not to say that no strings doesn’t sometimes present its own set of problems and complications. In this age of people hooking up via Tinder, we’re trying to be reflective of what’s going on. People are having a lot of fun out there.
Quinn and Eric teaming up to humiliate Sheila seemed so cruel that it left us siding with Sheila, which is weird considering she’s the devil incarnate. Why’d you play it that way?
Quinn and Eric had to teach Sheila a lesson. Words don’t always sink in with Sheila. She had to live it, feel it, and see the reality of the truth—that she will never be Eric’s wife. They created a bubble of hope for her and then they burst that bubble to make the point that she needs to move on. Sheila needed to see that portrait go up on the wall and then see it come down.
But after all the hoo-hah over Sheila’s return, why defang her so quickly?
We haven’t seen the last of Sheila. Until the next chapter, she is going to continue to work at the restaurant, continuing to hover. She always has a way back in. She didn’t shoot or kill anyone this time around. Yeah, she beat up Quinn but that was the worst that happened. Maybe she will find her way to a place where she can be a dynamic and positive presence in Eric’s life.
What about bringing on her daughter, Mary?
We’ve been considering that. We haven’t seen Mary in many years. We know that she was really under her mother’s influence as a young girl but now she’s all grown up. It would be interesting to see who Mary is now—and who Sheila is as a mother. [Laughs] It’s a frightening thought.
Kimberlin spoke at last year’s Republican National Convention. Now she’s announced plans to run for Congress. What will that do to your story plans?
The election is a year off, so there’s time to figure this out. We’ll have to wait and see how it might work. Kimberlin really enjoys being with us, and I have plenty of experience writing for actors who are juggling two jobs—just never villainess and congresswoman!
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Many of these responses to the questions are very vague..thanks for telling us, um, nothing.
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I did think that he will recast Thomas that he will be in Bill's face after he lied to him about Caroline's health. And Zende to what about Nicole? Will have to see
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My sister asked me to watch the show a few times to see what I thought of it. She brought me up to speed on all of the characters and many of the storylines that have been exploited. I think it is one of the most disgusting things I've ever watched. It's no wonder there's so much sexual abuse and exploitation of women going on in Hollywood and it is now being revealed it has gone on for decades. The minds of dirty old man can be seen clearly in this show, who think it's okay to use women like they're nothing but sexual toys and playthings for powerful rich old men. Like Weinstein. Brooke went through every man in the Forrester family and it was presented as if it was okay to pass her around like a cupcake. Now they're starting a new generation with Stephanie Forrester. Going through the two brothers and from the two brothers to the father. And people are on here commenting like it's nothing. Incest and gross immorality being winked at as if it's cute. And you wonder why women are now coming forward talking about how they've been abused by men in Hollywood for years? Life can imitate art. Then the whole thing with Wyatt sleeping with his ex step mother, both acting like dogs in heat, the former wife of his father and his baby brother's mother. How sick can you get. But I guess it just shows how far down the ladder of morality Americans have sunk. We used to really have some pretty strong values that the world admired and respected. No more. It's an anything-goes Society and Hollywood is leading the charge. Thank God for some pretty brave men and women that are now coming forward to shake the tree and let people know that it is not okay, the culture that has been pushed. Because it leads people to believe that there's no accountability. That we can do whatever we want whenever we want with no repercussions. Inbreeding is not okay even if it has been practiced by some groups for centuries.. I told my sister I won't be watching the show again. There are some lines that you just don't cross. Or you get the scandals you see rocking Hollywood today. When indecent behavior is pushed in a show not to show that it's wrong but to actually applaud it. Just saying.
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B&B is creatively bankrupt. It is an absolute disaster on every level. Brad Bell needs a co-HW in the worst way. The show has fallen from really good soap to unwatchable. He tosses the wonderful Avants away for the horrid beyond words nuSpectras. Idiocy! He throws Caridge under the bus to try & sell Thomas all the while glossing over the fact he sexually assaulted Caroline. Bell stated himself he wrote out the wonderful Caroline because he didn't want Thomas saddled with a kid. Well, you shouldn't have made Thomas his in the first place. Idiocy! Then you bring Caroline back & have her spout 100% BS that she had always been in love with Thomas. WTH? Don't re-write what we watched. The merry go round of B&B romances lack any resonance b/c couples ping pong every 4 months. Bill is now a cartoon. Eric had to be written as an idiot to try and sell Sheila. They have a young female lead who's face is so butchered it's difficult to even look at her. Her eyes are slits & pulled so tightly she looks Asian. Her face is so over filled & Botoxed she can't emote but by all means make her front and canter instead of natural & talented characters like Maya, Caroline ,Nicole & Ivy.
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I agree w/ you in regards to Steffy. Too much Botox! It’s sad too because that actress is young, she doesn’t need it. As for everything else, eh, I’m not missing Caroline much. I’m enjoying Sally much more. Would like to see more of Ivy, Rick, Maya & Nicole though. NuThorne could be interesting, I loved that actor when he was on GH. I just don’t like the idea of him being w/ Brooke. Age wise, she looks & fits better w/ Ridge. NuThorne should be w/ someone younger like Sally - or if Caroline returns, maybe her. I wish Sheila would leave town already, bored w/ her. Still think B&B missed what could have been a very interesting pairing w/ Ridge & Quinn. Maybe some day. JMO, of course.
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I do agree with some of the things that you said I did think that may be will see Caroline coming back with some news for Ridge that he is Douglas's father and why make Thomas a father? And I really liked Quinn and Ridge together I do think he missed this story TK and RS are great together Bell should have given them a story line. I was sorry that he gave Caroline to be a victom of a lie that Bill cooked up for Thomas I really like Caroline and I wanted her to be happy Thomas and Caroline were never a couple and never in love. I do think that Caroline and Ridge should be back together. Sally and Thomas were a great couple that what I think
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I did think that Bell will go with Quinn and Ridge they do have a good chemistry he started some thing nice between them and then he put her back with Eric. I do miss Caroline he brought her just for the story line for Bill's lie to Thomas. I think Caroline should be back with Ridge. Ridge right now dosen't have a woman in his life. I think he needs one. And I don't think it's Brook this story between them is getting old
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Steffy can’t even move her top lip she has so much Botox and her eyes are so slanted! She was such a pretty girl to ruin her face like that. Looks like Brooke finally stopped with her Botox face. Steffys Mom Taylor was so pretty too and started with the Botox also and ruined her face also.
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Brad Bell has the attention span of a gnat.
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Bell says he has experience writing for actors who are juggling two jobs; since when? He can't even write for his crew of "full-time, contracted" actors. He is a total load of what you find in a cow pasture.
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Brad Bell sucks! Thorne is the new Rick...how original. They should have NEVER made Maya trans! His writing for BB is like his ego: despicable!
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I have been watching B & B for years, and have not been very happy with the way the story is going with Steffi and Liam. no way would a wife go against her husband and go to her father in law side, when Bill was in the wrong from the beginning. And since when did Steffi have any concern about her husbands family.. Dumb story line....
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It was very interesting to read what Bell has in store for us viwers but he forgot to mention about Caroline and Ridge baby Douglas story bio father will it be a story line? I really loved this couple together I think they were the best couple on the show I understand that he is not bringing a recast for Thomas yet I do wonder why? Sally and Thomas were a great couple I did love those two together. May be Bell wants to do a Sally and Liam story line now? Will have to see. I thought that may be will see Quinn and Ridge together I do think that Bell missed this story line they have allot of spark between those two. For two people that could not stand each other suddenly they are the best of friends I liked the chemistry between them and Ridge excepting Quinn in to the family as Eric's wife. Will have to get used to the new Thorne will give him a chance and see what he can do. If Rick will hear that Thorne wants to make changes at FC he will be a big problem to Ridge he will want to be CEO to and that will be very massy I don't see Steffy giving up her CEO position any time soon. I don't see any story line for Maya only as Rick's wife. I don't really know what Shiela is going to do now that she got kicked out of Eric and Quinn's house. I do wonder what is she going to do now? I read in the spoilers that they want to bring Deacon back but I don't know if it's true will have to see. I really think that Bell massed up Steffy and Liam's merrid life but it's a soap and things happen. Bill is a big creep sleeping with Steffy that is a big No.No. will have to see what surprises will come next. I do wonder now what will Brook do now that Thorne is back. Ridge will have a big challenge with his brother wich he wants some respect he is family and he wants it now. I want to see how Ridge will take the heat. Good Luck Ridge. I do like Kaite and Wyatt I am waiting to see how Bill will take the news that they are a couple.
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