See how ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ soap opera debuted in 1987

The Bold and the Beautiful vintage 1980s soap opera scenes (3)

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The Bold and the Beautiful: You’ll never forget the first time! (1987)

From the creators of The Young and the Restless: The Bold and the Beautiful

Series Premiere Monday, March 23: Be in on the beginning of the boldest daytime drama ever!

Watch our exciting new daytime lineup: The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, As The World Turns, Guiding Light – CBS

The Bold and the Beautiful You'll never forget the first time (1987)


Bold and Beautiful’ series has roots in ‘Young and the Restless’

Excerpted from the Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau, Wisconsin) March 22, 1987

William Bell is confident that CBS’ new “The Bold and the Beautiful” daytime serial will be a success.

He ought to know about the inside track, since he is also the creator of “The Young and the Restless,” which has copped the Emmy Award as best soap on the tube. It’s also No. 1, he says.

“The Bold and the Beautiful” begins airing from 12:30 to 1 p.m. CST Monday. Among the cast are Susan Flannery, Bryan Genesse, Lauren Koslow, Ethan Wayne, Carrie Mitchum, Teri Ann Linn, John McCook and Clayton Norcross.

MORE: How ‘Another World’ & ‘Days of Our Lives’ were the first hour-long soap operas

The Bold and the Beautiful vintage 1980s soap opera scenes (2)

“I’ve had a lot of experience creating shows,” says Bell, who has moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to oversee his new project. “I started a long time ago. I was with ‘The Guiding Light,’ created ‘Another World,’ and took over ‘Days of Our Lives‘ when it was in trouble.”

Bell co-created “The Bold and the Beautiful” with his wife, Lee Phillip Bell. And, as he says, the new soap is a family business.

His oldest son, Billy, 24, is in charge of business affairs. His other son, Bradley, 22, writes with him. His daughter, Lauralee Bell, plays Cricket on “The Young and the Restless.”

“The Bold and the Beautiful” concerns two L.A. families — the rich Forresters and the not-so-rich Logans. The backdrop is the fashion industry.

“For this show, we wanted something that was glamorous and sensuous, if you will. Fashion has so much going for it. I doubt there is any woman alive who isn’t interested in current fashions. So we’re using that device to back up the character stories.”

MORE FASHION: See Cheryl Tiegs’ clothing collection & swimwear at Sears in the ’80s

Scene from 80s Bold and the Beautiful soap opera

The Forrester family is mixed up in fashions. The focus there is on two sons — Ridge, an arrogant Adonis, and Thorn, a strong, attractive type.

The Logan family is less successful. The husband has left the family and the son has taken over his place.

“The families,” says Bell, “will cross in a most interesting and captivating way, but I’m not saying how.” The creator says he knows pretty much where the serial is heading, since he is now working on the 24th script.

“I’m told that is a record in being ahead. I know where we will be six months from now. I’m to the point I can start making it up as I go along.

MORE: Dallas TV show star Linda Gray models dresses straight out of the ’80s

The Bold and the Beautiful vintage 1980s soap opera scenes (1)

“That just depends on how well organized you are. I have a wonderful staff, some of whom are still working with ‘The Young and the Restless.’ They’ll be overlapping on both shows.”

The thrust of a soap, Bell says, is the involvement of the audience. “The characters must be appealing. Some will become your best friends, others you will despise. Characters can’t be one-dimensional.

“Many people spend more time with our characters than with their own families. You can depend on them every day at the same time, and live through their happy, sad, and emotional times.”

DON’T MISS: 📺 The controversial Soap TV show was the talk of the town before it even aired (1970s & 1980s)


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Comments on this story

One Response

  1. Funny how he said that the characters could not be one dimensional because that’s exactly how they are written today. Most of the characters could easily swap lines because none of them have any type of defining personality, other than hating a particular other character. Hope is always breathless, Steffy is always shrill, but those are the way the lines are presented, the two characters could take each other’s scripts easily.

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