Exclusive Interview: The Bold and the Beautiful’s Bradley Bell

While some prime-time dramas barely make it past two episodes, the daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful has been on the air for more than two decades. It premiered in March of 1987, created by soap-opera legends William Bell and Lee Phillip Bell with their son Bradley working as a writer. Today, Bradley is head writer and executive producer of this daytime serial that is seen in 100 countries around the world.

WS: What has been the secret to the show’s longevity?
BELL: There is no one secret. It’s been a wonderful collaboration between actors and directors and writers and distributors and timing. So many things worked for us that it’s hard to single out one thing, but I think it’s been a wonderful chemistry between the writers and the actors that has really shined throughout the series.

WS: How do you work with your team of writers?
BELL: I really guide the story. I have two associate head writers working to flesh out the outlines, which will then go to the dialogue writers. The scripts then return to me and I will edit them. But I’m really the one, as I have been for 20 years, guiding the story as head writer.

WS: You’ve given the show a new look, a new opening and more exterior shots. You even shoot scenes outdoors, which is uncommon for a daytime drama.
BELL: We made a decision a few years ago to bring the city of Los Angeles in as a character of the show. So we wanted to bring in more shots of the city and we wanted to get outside more. I was down in the studio, and although I’ve been there 20 years, I noticed there were these giant doors that led out to a terrace. I thought, why are we not opening these doors and shooting outside? So we investigated it, we got an extension cord for our cameras, so all we need to do is wheel them out to the terrace, and it’s turned out to be a real fresh look for the show.

WS: Even though it is very much a Los Angeles show, it has resonated with audiences around the world. What is it that somebody from Italy or France or Asia can relate to in the show?
BELL: It’s stories about sisters and brothers, mothers and daughters, friends and lovers, no matter what language you speak or where in the world you live, that is the international language of family. Everyone understands it and can relate to it. All of these stories have a moral component where people are trying to do what’s right, but don’t quite know which way to go. The characters aren’t good or bad, they are human beings with different personality traits and in the end hopefully they are uplifting and beautiful life-affirming stories.

WS: Sadly a number of soaps have been cancelled. How is it that The Bold and the Beautiful is going strong?
BELL: Network television has [evolved so much]. Viewing habits are changing. There is competition from cable and satellite. There is the Internet with web series. But as with any industry, strong business models will survive. For us it’s been such a blessing to be distributed in 100 countries around the world. That gives us the ability to sell the show domestically at a deficit and still be able to produce it and have the business model work. Other shows that haven’t had global distribution can no longer make a go of it; it’s simply too expensive. That is what separates our show as a business.

WS: Have you had all these characters living inside your head all the time for the past two decades?
BELL: Nonstop. It’s unbelievable, it’s so consuming but it’s so wonderful. It so much fun to wake up in the morning and immediately I go into the characters, in the shower, on the drive to work. It’s wonderfully consuming! I think the family gets a little annoyed when I check out once in a while; they can tell their dad’s not in the room even though physically he is! It’s something that I lived through with my father and I get it. I just love it.

WS: The business has certainly changed since 1987.
BELL: if someone told me that there would be 200 choices and we’d still be on the air I would have bet against it, but I’m so happy that we are still here.

WS: But from the beginning it’s always been a show about relationships.

BELL: Definitely, and it’s about romance. I think that even with these 200 channels there is very little romance on television, it’s so important and it’s fun and it’s beautiful. October will be a very romantic time and there will be a great wedding and a location shoot outside of California in a spectacular setting—it’s going to be epic!