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The Bold and the Beautiful

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The Bold and the Beautiful
File:Theboldandthebeautifullogo2004.jpg
Current B&B intertitle, used since July 2, 2004
GenreSoap opera
Created byWilliam J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes5,574
(as of May 29, 2009)
Production
Executive producerBradley Bell
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 23, 1987 –
present

The Bold and the Beautiful (often abbreviated to B&B) is an American television soap opera. Set in Los Angeles, California, the show centers around the Forrester family and their fashion house business Forrester Creations. The program features an ensemble cast, headed by its longest-serving actors Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, John McCook as Eric Forrester, Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan, Ronn Moss as Ridge Forrester. The soap was created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell as a sister show to their other soap opera The Young and the Restless.

B&B is currently the only American soap opera with a running time of 30 minutes, and the only one to simulcast in Spanish utilizing SAP technology for Hispanic viewers in the United States. Since its premiere on CBS Daytime on March 23, 1987, the show has become the most-watched soap in the world with an audience of an estimated 26.2 million viewers.[1] With the cancellation of Passions on August 7, 2008, B&B retakes its place as the youngest American daytime soap opera still on television, a title it has not held since 1989. As of 2009, it continues to hold on to the second placed position in weekly Nielsen Ratings for daytime dramas. Although there were rumours of the show expanding to an hour in September 2009, CBS has no plans to do. CBS leases B&B from the Bell family, who have refused to expand the soap to an hour.

Plot and history

Background of the Forrester family

The Forrester family (l-r): Kristen (Tracy Melchior), Thorne (Winsor Harmon), Felicia (Lesli Kay), Eric (John McCook), Stephanie (Susan Flannery) and Ridge (Ronn Moss).

Stephanie Douglas, a strong-willed woman, daughter to a rich family, met her husband-to-be Eric Forrester, who aspired to become a fashion designer, while they both studied at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. The young lovers hurried to get married after Stephanie became pregnant. They moved to Los Angeles, California, where they established Forrester Creations, designing and producing upscale women's fashion, based on Eric's designing talent and Stephanie's financial funding. While winning international recognition, fame, and wealth with their work, the couple managed to raise four children in a happy and caring environment, including elder son Ridge, brother Thorne and younger sisters Kristen and Felicia. It was discovered years later, when the children were all adults, that Stephanie's elder son, Ridge, was actually the biological child of Massimo Marone. Eric also has two grown children--Rick and Bridget--from his marriage to Brooke Logan.

Eric and Stephanie's marriage has been on-and-off throughout the series. They recently divorced for the third time.

Start and development of the series

The pilot episodes of the show focused on the preparations of the wedding of the Forrester's eldest son, Ridge, to Caroline Spencer, the daughter of the media mogul Bill Spencer. At this time Ridge has already become a fashion designer and vice president of Forrester Creations. Many media outlets throughout the world, from the big television networks to the most honorable newspapers, to the last gossip newspapers publicize their wedding, declaring it as "the wedding of the year in the fashion world." Thousands of women see the pictures of Ridge in the newspapers and speculate on the identity of the woman who has won the heart of the man who has, until recently, been a playboy, and who has refused to settle for one woman.

One of these women is a chemistry student named Brooke Logan, who comes from a working class family and who lives with her single mother Beth, her siblings Storm, Donna and Katie at a typical American home at the San Fernando Valley next to Los Angeles. In an ironic twist of fate, Beth was Eric's college girlfriend before he married Stephanie. Brooke's life soon became a key element in the series. Originally from a middle-class background, her love affair with Ridge set up much of the storyline beginning in the first season. Every so often, Ridge and Brooke reunite only to break up due to circumstances, and Ridge invariably finds comfort (in most cases, this would lead to marriage) with another love of his life Dr. Taylor Hayes. In addition, the rivalry between Ridge's mother Stephanie and Brooke has played a key role in the drama since its inception. Following one of her breakups with Ridge, Brooke married his father Eric, after first divorcing from Stephanie. Brooke eventually gave birth to two of Eric's children, before they divorced and Eric eventually reconciled with Stephanie. Likewise, Brooke and Ridge resumed their pattern of an on-again-off-again relationship, in-between Brooke's relationships with other men and Forrester family members, and Ridge's multiple reunions with Taylor.

Subplotting

For many years Spectra Fashions was Forrester's main rival, headed by Sally Spectra. Sally, a larger-than-life character with outrageous clothes and a sizable red coiffure, helmed both comedic and dramatic storylines, with the help of ditzy receptionist Darla Einstein and fashion designer Clarke Garrison. Though at first Sally and Stephanie Forrester were bitter enemies, in later years they developed a friendship; Sally even went to work at Forrester Creations after she finally made the decision to shut down her own company.

Sally's daughter Macy Alexander, a singer, underwent many traumas, most notably alcoholism. Having an on-again-off-again marriage to Thorne Forrester, whom she eventually lost to Brooke, Macy went abroad into hiding with her father Adam. After being discovered in Italy, Macy relocated back to Los Angeles where she reunited with Thorne Forrester before developing an interest in fellow recovering alcoholic, Deacon Sharpe, whom she married. Weeks later, Macy was gravely injured at a nightclub where she was headlining as a singer. She went into a coma and it was implied that her family pulled the plug off-camera.

In recent years, the Spectra family and friends have been supplanted by the introduction of Massimo Marone and his entourage. Marone, a billionaire shipping magnate who was a childhood friend of Stephanie dated her in college. They slept together once just before Stephanie first slept with Eric Forrester, and after forty-something years, a medical crisis revealed Massimo was Ridge's biological father. Shortly thereafter, Jacqueline Payne, a former lover of Massimo, arrived on scene and announced that her son, Dominick "Nick" Payne, a captain at Marone Industries, was also fathered by Massimo. Unlike Ridge, Nick wasn't a businessman and also changed his name to Marone.

Theme song and title sequence

The theme song of B&B, "High Upon This Love," was written by Jack Allocco and David Kurtz. A saxophone is played by well known saxophonist Eric Marienthal. From November 1998 to July 1999 in the United States, a vocal version of the theme song performed by Dionne Warwick was played during the end credits.

The title sequence for the first seventeen years was designed by Wayne Fitzgerald. It featured still photos of the show's current cast members interspersed with photos from fashion shoots. The sequence ends with a spool of pink fabric unrolling while the title "THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL" in black 1920's style Huxley Vertical font zooms out the white area revealed by the roll (with the letters being from in a disarranged to a rearranged order). The theme tune was tweaked slightly through the years, and the cast photos were replaced occasionally.

On July 2, 2004, the theme was revamped to go along with a completely revamped title sequence, featuring a "B&B" monogram logo above the show's title and video headshots of the current contract players (accompanied by the character name and since 2005, the actor's name). Recurring actors are rarely added to the opening. Most of the cast members are dressed in either black or gray in these opening shots. Four versions are used, the full open with the cast video headshots, a shortened open with the cast video headshots, and two without the cast video headshots. Three out of the four title sequences open with a mock magazine cover which morphs into a photo shoot. The fourth open was added in December 2005 and is the shortest opener currently on B&B.

Production

The show typically uses the "traditional soap opera look" featuring constructed sets such as the Forrester Mansion, the Shady Marlin, and the Forrester Creations offices. Perhaps due to the budget crunch faced by many daytime shows, CBS and the show's producers have started inserting more "reality" style shooting to the show in the way fellow CBS soap Guiding Light used in its final two years.

Many of the characters have taken trips to the fictional "Bikini Beach" which is actually a nearby California beach, and there have been scenes around the Forrester Creations building which appear to be shot somewhere on the CBS lot.

Ratings history

When it debuted, The Bold and the Beautiful replaced Capitol in the CBS Daytime lineup and also took its eighth place in the final year ratings (oddly enough, .4 ratings points ahead of Capitol, which it had replaced). However, B&B aired at 1:30 p.m. ET following The Young and the Restless, while Capitol had aired an hour later at 2:30 pm ET. Initially CBS' lowest-rated soap, its numbers were still respectable (reflecting the strength and consistency of the CBS daytime lineup) and began to climb. By 1993, after a successful crossover involving villain Sheila Carter from Y&R, it had climbed to third. By the mid-to-late 1990s, following yet another crossover (this time involving Sheila's nemesis Lauren Fenmore) it moved up to second and since has consistently remained there.

Some CBS affiliates such as KFMB-TV in San Diego, WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Florida, and KOTV in Tulsa, Oklahoma have moved the show to the morning in order to expand their local midday newscasts to an hour.

Throughout the 2000s, B&B and all the other remaining network daytime dramas have witnessed a steady erosion of viewers, mainly due to vastly altered viewing habits induced by cable networks and alternative genres such as reality, court shows, and talk shows on minor network affiliates.

The series reached a record low of 3,048,000 viewers on Friday, August 3, 2007. Since its record low, the series has gained more viewers. As of March 2009, data shows that B&B viewership has increased to 3,503,000. (Nielsen Media Research)

Criticisms

The show has enjoyed success by focusing on telling stories involving the core Forrester family, in particular sticking to a core group of characters: Stephanie, Eric, Brooke, Ridge, Taylor, Thorne, Macy and in recent years, Nick. However, the show has been criticized at times for not having a well-developed "B" storyline and for, at times, overexposing the core characters. Unlike other US soaps currently on the air, it is not uncommon for B&B to devote entire shows or even a week's worth of shows to a single storyline.

Storylines

The show has also been criticized for the sometimes breakneck speed in which it changes storylines, in particular with changes in romantic pairings. It is important to note that although the show is sometimes criticized for rapid changes, several leading soap critics, including Carolyn Hinsey, have lauded the show for knowing when a story isn't working, and changing or ending the story as a result (such as the 2003 romantic story involving Bridget and Ridge). It is, however, disconcerting that storylines are sometimes dropped without any kind of resolution.

Recasting

As with all U.S. soap operas, recasting is an ongoing fixture on the show. In the show's 20 year history, many characters have been played by two or more actors, often leading to a viewer backlash. One such instance was the 2004 recast of Bridget Forrester from Emmy-winner Jennifer Finnigan to relative newcomer Emily Harrison. Viewers did not adjust well to the new Bridget and Harrison was soon downgraded to recurring status. The mistake was rectified later that year when former The Young and the Restless star Ashley Jones stepped into the role. Jones has consistently remained with the show since. B&B has also had many other successful recasts, such as Winsor Harmon's Thorne Forrester, Lesli Kay's Felicia Forrester and Patrick Duffy's Stephen Logan. The recast of Rick Forrester from Emmy-winning Justin Torkildsen to ex-Days of our Lives star Kyle Lowder in 2007 met a mixed reaction from fans. It was announced in July 2007 that Nancy Sloan was being replaced by three-time Emmy winner Heather Tom; Tom is famous for portraying Victoria Newman on Y&R from 1991 - 2003. Tom is now on B&B as Katie Logan, the younger sister of Brooke and Donna Logan. Tom first aired on August 30, 2007. In December 2007, Tom, who had only signed a three-month deal initially, renewed her contract through 2011.

Near incestuous relationships

Finally, the relatively small cast has led to many romantic pairings and love triangles involving family members and in-laws. Some of the most controversial ones have been:

  • The romantic attraction shared between Ridge and his former half-sister/stepdaughter Bridget (Eric and Brooke's daughter)
  • The romantic attraction shared by Rick and his former half-nieces (and nearly step-daughters) Phoebe and later Steffy

Though the characters were not biologically related, this had not been established on the show until the 2001 reveal of Massimo being Ridge's biological father. Additionally, many of the show's storylines have featured siblings or a parent/child in love with and/or competing for the affections of the same character.

The character of Brooke has famously had romantic entanglements with several members of the same family:

  • A long-running romance with Nick's half-brother Ridge, which has led to several marriages and son RJ (Ridge Jr.)
  • A previous marriage to Ridge's half-brother Thorne
  • A previous marriage to Thorne's father Eric, with whom she also has two children (Rick and Bridget)
  • An affair with her daughter Bridget's first husband Deacon, which resulted in daughter Hope

Brooke is the biological mother of a son, Jack, with Bridget's second husband Nick. Nick married Bridget only to have the marriage end when he confessed to having sex with Katie, Bridget's aunt. Nick and Bridget were divorced freeing Nick and Katie to live together, and then suffer a miscarriage.

Cast

Main article: List of cast members of The Bold and the Beautiful
See also: List of The Bold and the Beautiful characters

Notable celebrities who have appeared

Crossovers

There have been several crossovers between The Bold and the Beautiful and its sister show, The Young and the Restless:

There have also been crossovers with The Price Is Right.

  • 2008
    • The Price Is Right: Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) makes an appearance during the Showcase to offer a contestant a spot as an extra for a segment. The contestant won the Showcase.
      • Immediately after the contestant won, she was whisked away to Studio 31 for hair, makeup, and wardrobe before taping her segment.
  • 2009
    • The Price Is Right: Dominick Marone (Jack Wagner) interrupts taping of Price (which is taped in the Bob Barker Studio; B&B is taped next door in Studio 31) on March 6. Wagner talks to Carey about soap appearances and "crashes" the taping. At the end of the show, a Marone-themed Showcase is presented.

Writing, producing and directing team

Main article: List of The Bold and the Beautiful crew
Executive producer(s)
Head writers
  • March 23, 1987–1994: William J. Bell
  • 1994–2002: Bradley Bell
  • 2002–2004: Bradley Bell (head), John F. Smith (co-head)
  • 2004–January 21, 2008: B. Bell
  • January 22, 2008–February 4, 2008: Rhonda Friedman [1](due to WGA strike)
  • February 5, 2008–April 15, 2008: Kay Alden
  • April 16, 2008–present: Bradley Bell
Current writing team
Current producing/directing team

Broadcasts outside the United States

  • Australia In Australia, B&B begain airing in 1988 on Network Ten. In 1996 it was removed from its original 1pm timeslot and began airing at 4.30pm. This was a controversial move as the late afternoon timeslot called for some episodes to be edited in order to retain a G classification. Despite this, B&B remained in the 4.30pm slot for the next 12 years. In December 2008, Australia became the first country outside of the Middle East to screen B&B in a primetime slot as Ten moved the show to 6pm. However on the 19th of January the show moved back to its 4:30 timeslot.
Main article: Screening of daytime soap operas in Australia
  • Austria In Austria, B&B does not air any longer, neither on ORF nor on ATV.
  • Belgium In Belgium, B&B airs in on weekdays at 6.00pm on VijfTV. It is also available through Video On Demand, a world premiere, because of the popularity of the show in Flanders.
  • Belgium In Belgium, B&B airs in on weekdays at 7.00pm on Digital One. At Saturday, Digital have 'De week van B&B' or 'The week of B&B' at 20.00 on Digital Hollywood. Its also available on Digital Just Missed
  • Botswana In Botswana, B&B airs an episode from 10.20pm to 10.50pm weekdays on BTV.
  • Bulgaria In Bulgaria, B&B airs in double episodes from 10.15 am to 11.00 am weekdays on BNT 1.The episodes are 3 years behind the USA.
  • Canada In Canada, B&B airs from 1:30pm to 2:00pm ET weekdays on CTV, simultaneously with CBS. It also airs in double episodes from 4.00pm to 5.00pm ET on weekdays in French on TVA, with the title Top modèles. The French episodes are 3-4 years behind the US.
  • Egypt In Egypt, B&B airs on Dream 1 at 21:00, 5 years behind USA
  • Estonia In Estonia, B&B airs from 17.30 pm to 17.55 pm weekdays on TV3.
  • Finland In Finland, B&B airs an episode from 5.00pm to 5.30pm weekdays on MTV3.
  • France In France, B&B airs an episode from 9.30am to 10.00am weekdays on France 2. Episodes are 2 years and 2 months behind the US.
  • Germany In Germany, B&B aired in double episodes from 11.15am to 12.00am weekdays on ZDF. The show got canceled in December 2008 due lack of episodes to air. A return is expected in the future, when more episodes are available.
  • Greece In Greece, B&B airs in double episodes from 2.30pm to 3.30pm weekdays on ERT3. Episodes are 1 year behind the US.
  • Iceland In Iceland, B&B airs everyday at 09:00 and 17:28hrs and on Saturdays 12:30 to 13:50hrs on Stöð 2
  • India In India, B&B airs an episode from 3.00 pm to 3.30 pm weekdays on Star World.
  • Israel In Israel, B&B airs at 6.10pm Sunday to on Yes Stars 3. Due to a change in the broadcasting network, episodes are currently 5 months behind the US.
  • Italy In Italy, B&B airs from 1.40pm to 2.10pm weekdays on Canale 5. Episodes are 6 months behind the US. The title for the Italian edition is simply "Beautiful".
  • Kenya In Kenya, B&B airs an episode from 10.20pm to 10.50pm weekdays on KBC.
  • Latvia In Latvia, B&B airs from 5.15pm to 6.00pm weekdays on LTV1. (2 episodes per day)
  • Luxembourg In Luxembourg, B&B airs from 6.05pm to 6.30pm weekdays on RTL9.
  • Malaysia In Malaysia, B&B airs an episode from 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm weekdays on RTM2. Repeats everyday from 1.30am to 2.00am. It has previously aired on Star World
  • Poland In Poland, B&B currently airs in double episodes from 4.00pm to 4.50pm from Monday to Saturday on TVP1. Episodes are about 4 years behind the US.
  • Romania In Romania, B&B airs from 2:30pm to 3:00pm ET weekdays on Prima TV as "Dragoste si Putere" ("Love & Power"). Episodes are 2 years and 8 months behind the US>
  • Serbia In Serbia, B&B airs in double episodes from 6pm to 7pm weekdays on FOX.
  • South Africa In South Africa, B&B airs an episode from 6pm to 6.30pm weekdays on SABC1. Episodes are about 1 year behind that of the USA.
  • Sweden In Sweden, B&B airs from 5.40 pm to 6.05 pm weekdays on TV4 Plus. Episodes are about 4 months behind that of the USA.
  • United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, B&B airs on Diva TV with double episodes airing at 06.00 to 0700, 11.00am to 12.00pm and repeated at 14.00-15.00. There is also a weekend omnibus on Sundays from 07.00-11.00am. Episodes are roughly 3 years behind the USA. The UK is now in 2006.

B&B in other languages

  • Egypt Arabic الجرئ و الجميلات
  • Bulgaria Bulgarian Дързост и красота Episodes are air in 2005(Audacity and Beauty)
  • Belgium Dutch Mooi en Meedogenloos
  • United Kingdom English The Bold and the Beautiful (In the USA, Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand)
  • France French Amour, Gloire et Beauté (France) / Top Models (Belgium, Luxembourg & Switzerland) / Top Modèles (Quebec)
  • Germany German Reich und Schön (Rich and Beautiful) / Fashion Affairs in the 1. Season
  • Greece Greek Τόλμη και Γοητεία (Boldness and Charm)
  • Israel Hebrew היפים והאמיצים (The Beautiful and the Bold)
  • Latvia Latvian Hameleonu rotaļas (Chameleons' games)
  • Poland Polish Moda na sukces (Success is Trendy / Fashion for Success)
  • Russia Russian Дерзкие и красивые / The Audacious and Beautiful
  • Serbia Serbian Одважни и лепи
  • Spain Spanish Belleza y poder/ "Los Forrester"
  • Sweden Swedish Glamour (Sweden), De vackra och de djärva (Finland)

DVD

A "Fan Favorites" set has been released in Netherlands (region 2), France (region 2) and Australia (region 4).
While the Australian version is a 5-disc set, European versions are 3-disc set but with both English and local dubs.
A second "Fan Favorites" set has been released 2009 with most of the weddings. The French version is a 3-disc set with only French dub.

Title
(Years) 		Ep # Content Additional features Release dates
Best-of #1
(1987-2004) 		21
  • The first episode
  • The second episode
  • Sally and Clarke's wedding
  • Stephanie's loss of memory
  • Brooke and Ridge's first wedding (2 episodes)
  • Jessica's kidnapping
  • Macy's first "death"
  • Macy's return in Portofino
  • Brooke and Taylor's shooting
  • Taylor's resurrection
  • Sally gives Stephanie a hair cut
  • R.J.'s birth (2 episodes)
  • Behind the scenes with Jack Wagner
  • 5000th episode celebration
  • Interviews and photoshoot with key cast
  • "Ten Questions" with Ronn Moss
Best-of #2 (1987-2007) 27
  • Ridge and Caroline's aborted wedding (2 episodes)
  • Ridge and Caroline's real wedding
  • Ridge and Taylor's first wedding
  • Sheila and Eric's wedding (4 episodes)
  • Omar and Taylor's wedding (2 episodes)
  • Ridge and Taylor's second wedding (2 episodes)
  • Stephanie and Eric's wedding
  • Amber and Rick's second wedding
  • Thorne and Macy's surprise wedding
  • Bridget and Deacon's second wedding
  • Brooke and Whip's wedding
  • Macy and Lorenzo's wedding
  • Macy and Deacon's wedding
  • Brooke and Ridge's second wedding
  • Brooke and Ridge's third wedding
  • Ridge and Taylor come back together (2 episodes)
  • Nick and Bridget's aborted wedding (2 episodes)
  • Felicia and Dante's aborted wedding
  • Taylor and Nick's wedding
  • "Ten Questions" with Winsor Harmon
  • "Ten Questions" with Brandon Beemer
  • "Ten Questions" with Lesli Kay
  • Hunter Tylo's fake dressing room
  • Interview of Jack Wagner
  • Interview of Ashley Jones
  • Interview of Jennifer Gareis

Awards

Emmy Awards

TV Soap Golden Boomerang Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ ""The World's Number One Show: CSI"". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  2. ^ http://video.fnac.com/a2441414/Amour-gloire-et-beaute-Coffret-3-DVD-Best-of-William-J-Bell-DVD-Zone-2
  3. ^ http://www.memorabletv.com/new/bold-and-the-beautiful-fan-favourites-collection.html
  4. ^ http://www.mediadis.com/video/detail.asp?id=175095
  5. ^ http://video.fnac.com/a2534133/Amour-gloire-et-beaute-Coffret-3-DVD-Best-of-Volume-2-Katherine-Kelly-Lang-DVD-Zone-2
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