(This article was originally published on Examiner.com on July 11, 2014.) It’s a rare thing to get a few minutes with a busy man like “The Bold and the Beautiful” Executive Producer and Head Writer, Bradley Bell and soon you’ll see why.
The show was just named the most watch daytime drama in the world, having received the Nymph Award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival last month for the ninth consecutive year. The show, centered around a family-owned Los Angeles fashion house, is the brainchild of Bell’s parents, William J. Bell and Lee Phillips Bell. The Emmy award-winning show is now in its 27th year on the CBS and is still going strong.
The soap took home a total of four Daytime Emmys last month for its outstanding achievements in Makeup, Costume Design, Hairstyling and Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama Series.
Daytime TV Examiner caught up with Bell just before he left for his summer break (to Brazil for the World Cup) to get his thoughts on the show’s success. He also talked about what makes the show, which is seen by more than 30 million people daily, so popular around the world.
Check out the interview with Bell below:
Phyllis: Congratulations on the Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series. You’ve won the Outstanding Series award before with some fantastic stories. When Emmy season rolls around, do you already have an idea in mind for what to submit in advance or do you wait closer until the end of the year to choose from your body of shows?
Bradley Bell: I kind of have an idea about a segment of shows I’d like to submit. It’s in the back of my mind throughout the year but come October/November if I haven’t thought selected yet, then I tend to worry.
Phyllis: You write for so many characters. How far ahead are you in story for them? Are you already thinking about what happens a year from now?
Bradley Bell: I’d like to tell you that I’m way ahead but I’m not. I’d like to think that in life you don’t know what’s going to happen around you for certain… and I wish I had more time to come up with every story. So I use every available minute I can to get ahead. The network is great and supportive. They allow me to shift it if I happen to change my mind and they run with it.
Phyllis: Congratulations on the show receiving the Monte Carlo Television Award. More people watch “The Bold and the Beautiful” than any other soap in the world. How do you feel about that and what do you think makes the show so appealing to viewers around the world?
Bradley Bell: I think that it’s because we’re based on romance, glamor and family. I think also our… generally, we’re uplifting. We celebrate life and keep things, you know, in good spirits. I think that resonates. It’s not about crime. It’s not about having too many horrible or scary things happen. It’s about celebrating family and love.
Phyllis: I’m glad you brought back the character of Ridge (now played by Thorsten Kaye) to the show. Tell me, when are you going to reunite Ridge and Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang)?
Bradley Bell: Ridge and Brooke? Well, that may happen. They have a son together, R.J. But you know, you can’t go straight from point A to point B. You have to have some fun in the process.
Phyllis: It was nice to talk to you.
Bradley Bell: Thank You. It was my pleasure.
“The Bold and the Beautiful” airs weekdays on CBS.
