‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Brad Bell on the ‘New Momentum’ of Soap Operas After Years of Cancellations (Exclusive Clip)
Next year, The Bold and the Beautiful will celebrate its 40th anniversary on CBS. At the helm of the series is Brad Bell who wears both hats as executive producer and head writer of through his family company, Bell-Phillip Television Productions, named after his legendary parents, Bill Bell and Lee Phillip Bell (co-creators of B&B and Y&R).
Now in a special one-year anniversary podcast episode of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart dropping tomorrow on Tuesday, July 7, Bell is the featured guest where the topics ranged from learning his craft from his father, Bill Bell, to the state of soap operas today.
When asked about having his own TV production company and having a soap opera on the air for almost four decades when in 2009, the soaps started to be cancelled in succession: Guiding Light, As the World Turns, All My Children and One Life to Live, Bell offered this perspective in this exclusive clip provided to Michael Fairman TV ahead of the full conversation.
MAKING THE BEST EPISODES OF THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Brad expressed, “I’m very proud of that (having his own production company). There were times when the soaps we all know from the nineties were (later) dropping out and there were 14 and then 12. Everyone was saying, ‘What were you going to do next?’ And I thought I should make a plan. But, I made the plan that I’m going to stay focused and try to make every episode of The Bold and the Beautiful the best it can be, and maybe the sun will shine again. Then, I’m thinking probably not.”
However in 2026, Bell feels that with streaming as a useful platform for fans to catch up on episodes, Beyond the Gates being the first new network soap opera launched in 25 years, and how soaps have been in the mainstream of late (think John Oliver and Ryan Gosling), the EP and head scribe believes soaps are on an upswing.
“I do feel that we’re in a period now of new momentum,” shared Bell. “I think streaming, which was certain death has now become a friend and an asset. So, there is a lot of interest in what we’re doing.”
MICRODRAMAS AND HOLLYWOOD STARLET
Brad is also moving into the burgeoning world of vertical dramas with his new microdrama Hollywood Starlet, under his Red Flair Entertainment banner for aTwist (formerly MicroCo;, the U.S.-based microseries studio and platform that is set to launch in August.
As previously reported, the upcoming microdrama was created Bell; directed and written by Kristen Brancaccio; and executive produced by Anthony Ferrari, Oliver Bell, Paxton Fuller and Graham Lawyer. Bradley Bell and his son Oliver Bell founded Red Flair Entertainment to specifically focus on elevated vertical series.
You can check out this exclusive preview clip of Brad Bell talking about how soap operas are on an upswing below.