first and get better, so I applaud her for taking care of herself and not tape 50 scenes the next day.”
Because of Kay being recast, various scenes were delayed because they all thought Jeanne would make it back to set to post-tape her scenes. “But then they hired Michael Learned, so it all worked out,” she notes.
Has she watched the show since her last visit? I didn’t sugar-coat how hard it’s been to watch Y&R during the past six months. “Listen, I watch it when I get a chance,” answers Bell. “A few weeks ago, I caught Ashley and Jack having scenes together and I just loved it so much! Especially when they’re in the Abbott living room. But life changes. Things change. I get that there are certain issues… but I can tell you Maria is stepping it up.”
What would Bill Bell think of Y&R today? That’s easy: “Less group scenes; more character-driven storylines. I remember the days when we got a Nikki and Victor scene that was eight pages long. The arc was amazing… but the attention span isn’t there anymore, I don’t think. He would definitely have less actors on the show and less group scenes. Other than that, he’d still be thrilled that 80 per cent of the characters today are his [legacy] characters and actors.”
With One Life and AMC seemingly traversing to the web, would Bill be investigating the digital/online medium as a future venue for his young and restless characters? “I feel, because he was very ‘tunnel-visioned’ when it came to the script, he wouldn’t think his soap would ever be in danger of being cancelled. It’s not a cockiness, per se, but he just wouldn’t stop until someone forced his show off the air. He would never concede. As for moving online, I really think he would still be writing the show on a typewriter, not a computer. Even my mother, Lee, I’ll send her stuff to her iPad and she still doesn’t get how it works. I think if someone could get my dad DVDs of a web soap, he’d watch it on TV, but watching a show on a computer he wouldn’t get. My dad did not like change. I mean, we had chicken noodle soup every Sunday for years. We were very comfortable in a routine. So moving Y&R to the web would be a huge change for him.” Even though Master Bell reinvented the soap opera with the younger and sexier Y&R, and perfected major soap staples like the crossover and focused on multiracial storytelling.
And creating superstar after superstar. Including Victoria Rowell. Does Bell think her dad would screw on-set politics and bring back Drucilla for ratings and story, actors be damned?
Bell says, “We are a family. And we have to respect our family members. Unfortunately, things have gotten personal between us sometimes, so I think he would make sure it was OK with everyone. Listen, there is no question how talented and popular Rowell is, but I would hope he would give the actors on the show a chance to voice their opinion — pro or con — before he would make his decision. At the end of the day, I believe he would do what is best for the show. If her return felt forced, even if the story was good, I feel he would say, ‘People can be replaced because actors are only as good as the story.’ Listen, this one is a tough one to call because whenever someone burned my dad, he wasn’t quick to forgive and forget. It all depends as to how it all went down because I don’t know; I wasn’t there.”
Which is ironic considering how criticized Bell was during her premiere years on Y&R for being the daughter of the creator; yet, it’s everyone who is a non-Bell that is pulling drama behind the scenes.
“I get why people wrote that stuff about me, but it was hurtful when I was so young; however, you’re right… I’m not a diva. I just don’t get being one. I’m all about the crew… they are the ones who work around the clock making us look good for much lesser pay and respect. But you’re right… it is very ironic. Even with my latest comeback… I could have asked for a bigger storyline and more scenes.”
Or promotion. CBS promoted Eva Longoria’s “return” to daytime like the second coming… but methinks she should have been the focus.
As for her father’s bio, written by Michael Maloney, it’s still happening. “My mother and I were recently looking at pictures to go in the book. It’s coming soon.”
Next week: Will Bell follow in her father’s footsteps and work behind the scenes at Y&R; the latest on her web show, Family Dinner; and the elusive Emmy award!
THE EDGE OF SOAP:
Crazy Stupid Talkers — Katie Gets Help Destroying Soaps!
It’s raining talk shows! ABC is following in Another World and Guiding Light ‘s soap-killing strategy by allowing affiliates to hold the smoking gun, as Uncensored published last week. Over 60 per cent of ABC's largest markets have singed Katie, but ABC’s plot to kill GH is by ceding the 3 p.m. hour back to its affiliates just got some more help. Since Katie is airing on a non-ABC affiliate in Orlando, MFTV-Channel 9 has bought the rights to air Steve Harvey’s new titular talker. Also, joining the talk show circuit is Jeff Probst, who has signed a deal with NBC to air a one-hour chatter.
Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 6 (UPDATED) Page 2
