The Bold and the Beautiful

The Bold and the Beautiful is a CBS network soap opera created by William J. Bell & Lee Phillip Bell which premiered on March 23, 1987 and as of 2017, it has aired for 6886 episodes.

Since its premiere, the show has become the most-watched soap in the world with an audience of an estimated 26.2 million viewers and as of 2010, it continues to hold on to the second-placed position in weekly Nielsen Ratings for daytime dramas.

Plot[]

Set in Los Angeles, California, the series centers around the Forrester family and their fashion house business Forrester Creations.

Stephanie Douglas, a strong-willed woman and the daughter of wealthy Chicago businessman John Douglas, 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 men and 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 the elder and favorite son Ridge, brother Thorne and younger sisters Kristen & Felicia. It was discovered years later when the children were all adults that Stephanie's elder son, Ridge was actually fathered by Massimo Marone.

Like many soap operas, "The Bold and the Beautiful" looks into the lives of wealthy families and how love affairs, scandals and betrayals affect each of the family members and their relationships with each other.

Beginning of the Series

The pilot episodes of the show focuses on the preparations of the wedding of the Forrester's eldest son, Ridge, to Caroline Spencer Forrester, 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 "the wedding of the year in the fashion world". Thousands of women see the pictures of Ridge 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 in a typical American home in the San Fernando Valley in the city of Los Angeles.

In an ironic twist of fate, Beth was Eric's college girlfriend before he married Stephanie. Brooke's life soon becomes a key element in the series. Originally from a middle-class background, her love affair with Ridge sets up much of the story-line, beginning in the first year.

Every so often, Ridge and Brooke reunite only to break up due to various 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 plays a key role in the drama.

Following one of her breakups with Ridge, Brooke marries his father Eric, who divorces Stephanie to do so. Brooke gives birth to two of Eric's children. They eventually divorce and Eric reconciles with Stephanie. Likewise, Brooke and Ridge resume their pattern of an on-again-off-again relationship, between Brooke's relationships with other men and Forrester family members, and Ridge's multiple reunions with Taylor.

Eric eventually marries Brook's sister, Donna Logan and legally adopts her son Marcus. They later divorce due to their family's bitter history. Felicia and Kristen Forrester choose to follow their own paths, leaving the family company to be run by Ridge, Thorne, Rick, Marcus, and their families.

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, is a key element in both comedic and dramatic story-lines with the help of ditzy receptionist Darla Einstein and fashion designer Clarke Garrison, who fathered CJ Garrison, Sally's son. Though, at first, Sally and Stephanie Forrester are bitter enemies, in later years, they develop a friendship; Sally even ends up working at Forrester Creations after she finally makes the decision to shut down her own company.

Sally's daughter Macy Alexander, a singer, undergoes many traumas, most notably alcoholism. She and Thorne Forrester are involved in an on-again-off-again marriage. After she eventually loses Thorne to Brooke, Macy goes abroad and into hiding with her father, Adam. After being discovered in Italy, Macy returns to Los Angeles where she reunites with Thorne Forrester before developing an interest in fellow recovering alcoholic, Deacon Sharpe, whom she marries.

Weeks later, Macy is gravely injured at a nightclub where she is headlining as a singer. She enters a coma and it is implied that her family pulls the plug off-camera.

The Spectra family and friends are supplanted by the introduction of Massimo Marone and his entourage. Marone, a billionaire shipping magnate, was a childhood friend of Stephanie and dated her in college.

They slept together once just before Stephanie began dating Eric Forrester, and after forty-something years, a medical crisis reveals that Massimo is Ridge's biological father. Shortly thereafter, Jacqueline Payne, a former lover of Massimo, arrives on the scene and announces that her son, Dominick "Nick" Payne, a captain at Marone Industries, was also fathered by Massimo. Unlike Ridge, Nick wasn't a businessman and took the surname Marone.

In recent years, the Spencer family and their media conglomerate Spencer Publications have been part of the show's focus. Original character Bill Spencer's children, Karen Spencer and Bill Spencer, Jr., along with Karen's daughter Caroline Spencer and Bill's sons Wyatt Spencer, Liam Spencer, and Will Spencer make up the Spencer family.

Cast[]

Current Cast[]

Actor	Character	Duration
Darin Brooks	Wyatt Spencer	2013–
Scott Clifton	Liam Spencer	2010–
Felisha Cooper	Sasha Thompson	2015–
Patrika Darbo	Shirley Spectra	2017–
Don Diamont	Bill Spencer, Jr.	2009–
Reign Edwards	Nicole Avant	2015–
Rome Flynn	Zende Forrester Dominguez	2015–
Pierson Fodé	Thomas Forrester	2015–
Courtney Hope	Sally Spectra	2017–
Thorsten Kaye	Ridge Forrester	2013–
Katherine Kelly Lang	Brooke Logan	1987–
John McCook	Eric Forrester	1987–
Alley Mills	Pamela Douglas	2006–
Karla Mosley	Maya Avant	2013–
Rena Sofer	Quinn Fuller	2013–
Heather Tom	Katie Logan	2007–
Anthony Turpel	R.J. Forrester	2016–
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood	Steffy Forrester	2008–13, 2015–
Jacob Young	Rick Forrester	1997–99, 2011–

Recurring Cast[]

Actor	Character	Duration
Zane Alexander Achor	Will Spencer	2013–
Obba Babatundé	Julius Avant	2015–
Ashleigh Brewer	Ivy Forrester	2014–
Mick Cain	C.J. Garrison	1997–2004, 2007, 2010, 2017–
Crystal Chappell	Danielle Spencer	2012–
Dick Christie	Charlie Webber	2013–
Othello Clark	Othello	2011–
Andrew Collins	Jarrett Maxwell	2004–
Zack Conroy	Oliver Jones	2010–
Jennifer Gareis	Donna Logan	2006–
Linsey Godfrey	Caroline Spencer	2012–
Theodora Greece	Alison Montgomery	2011–
Jacqueline Hahn	Dr. Caspary	2005–
Winsor Harmon	Thorne Forrester	1996–
Jon Hensley	Dr. Meade	2012–
Anna Maria Horsford	Vivienne Avant	2015–
Sean Kanan	Deacon Sharpe	2000–05, 2012, 2014–
Kristolyn Lloyd	Dayzee Leigh Forrester	2010–
Dan Martin	Lieutenant Baker	1997–
Chris McKenna	Dr. Hayden	2016–
Zach Rance	Zach	2014–
Lawrence Saint-Victor	Carter Walton	2013–
Rodney Saulsberry	Anthony Wallace	2010–
Scott Turner Schofield	Nick	2015–
Tigerlily and Ginger Siler	Rosie Forrester	2011–
Taja V. Simpson	Adele	2012–
Aaron D. Spears	Justin Barber	2009–
Sandra Vergara	Theresa Corazon	2013–
Stephanie Wang	Madison Lee	2007–
Fred Willard	John Forrester	2014–
Alex Wyse	Saul Feinberg	2017–
Andres Zuno	Rafael	2013–

Past Cast[]

Actor	Character	Duration
Marla Adams	Beth Logan	1991
Luigi Amodeo	Lorenzo Barelli	2002–03
Justin Baldoni	Graham Darros	2010
Judith Baldwin	Beth Logan	1987
Texas Battle	Marcus Forrester	2008–13
Kabir Bedi	Prince Omar Rashid	1994–95, 2005
Drew Tyler Bell	Thomas Forrester	2004–10
Brandon Beemer	Owen Knight Casper Knight	2008–12 2009
Paulo Benedeti	Antonio Dominguez	2001–02, 2012–13
Tracey E. Bregman	Lauren Fenmore Baldwin	1992–99, 2002, 2004, 2007
Kimberlin Brown	Sheila Carter	1992–98, 2002–03
Peter Brown	Blake Hayes	1991–92
Sarah Joy Brown	Agnes Jones	2009–11
Agnes Bruckner	Bridget Forrester	1997–99
Sabrina Bryan	Alisa Cordova	2002
Ian Buchanan	Dr. James Warwick	1993–99, 2004, 2007–11
Nancy Burnett	Beth Logan	1987–89, 1994, 1996–98, 2000–01
Sarah Buxton	Morgan DeWitt	2000–01, 2005
Ashley Lyn Cafagna	Kimberly Fairchild	1998–2001
Brian Patrick Clarke	Storm Logan (#2)	1990–91
Robert Clary	Pierre Jourdan	1988–89
Darlene Conley	Sally Spectra	1989–2006
Mace Coronel	R.J. Forrester	2013–14
Barbara Crampton	Maggie Forrester	1995–98
Eileen Davidson	Ashley Abbott	2007–08
Tamara Davies	Tricia Quick	2002-03
Michelle Davison	Ruthanne Owens	1991–93, 1995, 1997
William deVry	Storm Logan	2006–08, 2012
Michael Dietz	Mark Maclaine	2002–05
Lesley-Anne Down	Jackie Marone	2003–12
Courtnee Draper	Mary Warwick	2002
Patrick Duffy	Stephen Logan	2006, 2007-11
Bobbie Eakes	Macy Alexander	1989–2000, 2001, 2002-03
Andrea Evans	Tawny Moore	1999–2000, 2010–11
Kayla Ewell	Caitlin Ramirez	2004–05
Jennifer Finnigan	Bridget Forrester	2000–03
Susan Flannery	Stephanie Forrester	1987–2012
Adrienne Frantz	Amber Moore April Knight	1997–2005, 2010–12 2003
Brian Gaskill	Oscar Marone	2003–04
Bryan Genesse	Rocco Carner	1987–89, 2009
Frank and Morgan Gingerich	Jack Marone	2010–11
Ricky Paull Goldin	Jesse Graves	2013
Charles Grant	Grant Chambers	1996–98
Adam Gregory	Thomas Forrester	2010–13, 2014
Dax Griffin	Shane McGrath	2006–07
Ken Hanes	Mike Guthrie	1993–98, 2010
Emily Harrison	Bridget Forrester	2004
Rick Hearst	Whipple Jones	2002, 2009–11
Ben Hogestyn	Harry Jackson	2006
Addison Hoover	Phoebe Forrester	2005–06
Alex Hoover	Steffy Forrester	2005–06
Jack Horan	R.J. Forrester	2011
Mykel Shannon Jenkins	Charlie Baker	2007–09, 2012
Joanna Johnson	Caroline Spencer Forrester Karen Spencer	1987–90, 2001 1991–94, 2009, 2011–14
Ashley Jones	Bridget Forrester	2004–12, 2013, 2015, 2016
Lesli Kay	Felicia Forrester	2005–11, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Lauren Koslow	Margo Maclaine Lynley	1987–92, 2002
Lorenzo Lamas	Hector Ramirez	2004–06
Teri Ann Linn	Kristen Forrester	1987–90, 1992–94, 1997, 1999
Mario Lopez	Dr. Christian Ramirez	2006
Kyle Lowder	Rick Forrester	2007–11
Constantine Maroulis	Constantine Parros	2007
A Martinez	Dr. Ramon Montgomery	2011–12
Joseph Mascolo	Massimo Marone	2001–06
Kim Matula	Hope Logan	2010–14, 2015, 2016
Mackenzie Mauzy	Phoebe Forrester	2006–08
Todd McKee	Jake Maclaine	1990–92, 2007–09, 2011–13, 2015–
Daniel McVicar	Clarke Garrison	1987–92, 1996–2009
Tracy Melchior	Kristen Forrester	2001–06, 2008–09, 2012–13
Lilly Melgar	Claudia Cortez	1996-97
Ronn Moss	Ridge Forrester	1987–2012
Carrie Mitchum	Donna Logan	1987–91, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001
Dylan Neal	Dylan Shaw	1994–97
Clayton Norcross	Thorne Forrester	1987–89
Ashlyn Pearce	Alexandria Forrester	2013–15
Sydney Penny	Samantha Kelly	2003–05
Robert Pine	Stephen Logan	1988, 1994, 1996, 1997–98, 2001
Lindsay Price	Michael Lai	1995–97
Usher Raymond	Raymond	1999
Robin Riker	Beth Logan	2008–10
Victor Rivers	Ricardo Montemayor	2013–14
Chris Robinson	Jack Hamilton	1992-94, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
Gina Rodriguez	Beverly	2011–12
Jane A. Rogers	Julie DeLorean	1990–92
Antonio Sabato, Jr.	Dante Damiano	2005–06
Colleen Dion Scotti	Felicia Forrester	1990–92, 1997, 2004
Mary Sheldon	Donna Logan	2001
Hillary B. Smith	Dr. Stacy Barton	2012
Nancy Sloan	Katie Logan	1987–89, 1991, 1994–96, 1997–98, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
Jim Storm	Bill Spencer, Sr.	1987–94, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2009
Michael Swan	Adam Alexander	1998–2000, 2001, 2002–03
Marissa Tait	Becky Moore	1999-2000
Justin Torkildsen	Rick Forrester	1999–2006
Jeff Trachta	Thorne Forrester	1989–96
Hunter Tylo	Dr. Taylor Hayes	1990–2002, 2004, 2005–13, 2014
Sandra Vidal	Sofia Alonso	2001–03
Lark Voorhies	Jasmine Malone	1995–96
Jack Wagner	Nick Marone	2003–12
Maitland Ward	Jessica Forrester	1994–96
Chris Warren Jr.	Jimmy Ramirez	2004–2005
Ethan Wayne	Storm Logan	1987–89, 1994, 1997–98, 2000, 2001, 2003
Betty White	Ann Douglas	2006–07, 2008, 2009
Shanelle Workman	Gabriela Moreno	2005

Ratings[]

Upon its debut as the replacement of former soap opera "Capitol" in the CBS Daytime lineup, "The Bold and the Beautiful" ended eighth in the final year ratings. Initially CBS' lowest-rated soap, its numbers were still respectable and began to climb.

By 1992, after a successful crossover involving villain Sheila Carter from The Young and the Restless, it had climbed to third. By the mid-to-late 1990s, following yet another crossover, it moved up to second and has consistently remained there since.

Throughout the 2000s, the show 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.

Accolades[]

"The Bold and the Beautiful" has been nominated for over two hundred prizes and accolades since its debut. It has also won several awards over the years, including the Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The writing team also won the Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team" in 2010 and 2013.

Susan Flannery has personally won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" on three separate occasions.