[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]On Thursday, November 3rd, 2016, I was fortunate enough to attend a table read of the show’s very first episode, which aired on March 23, 1987. The reading and discussion took place at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills in honor of CBS Daytime’s #1 for 30 celebration.

TV Guide’s Michael Logan executed his task as panel moderator beautifully. He led the cast in a very spirited discussion on topics such as love triangles and how fans have reacted to socially relevant storylines. He even inspired an amusing tale from Katherine Kelly Lang, in which she laughingly admitted to using the excessive yawing method to tear up for a crying scene. It was quite funny, especially when she got to the part where Bill Bell Sr. approached her out of concern after he observed her on one of the TV monitors. He wanted to know if she was alright, but she dared not admit that she hadn’t quite yet mastered the trick of crying on demand. I think it’s safe to say Lang has grown exponentially as an actress and can now break any viewer’s heart with her on-screen tears.

The night began as Logan took turns introducing each panel member by name and role after a montage revisiting a few of the soap’s memorable moments cycled across the big screen behind the stage to the catchy beat of Justin Timberlake’s hit song ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. One by one the audience whooped and hollered as Executive Producer/Head Writer, Bradley P. Bell, Jacqueline M. Wood (Steffy Forrester), Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer), John McCook (Eric Forrester), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Forrester), Heather Tom (Katie Logan), Don Diamont (Bill Spencer, Jr.), Darin Brooks (Wyatt Spencer), Alley Mills (Pam Douglas), Jacob Young (Rick Forrester) and Karla Mosley (Maya Avant) took the stage and prepared to read, for the first time ever the original script of The Bold and the Beautiful episode 1.

Table Read Highlights and Fun Facts:

  • Bell-Phillip Television Productions received the green light to replace another 1980s CBS soap, Capitol. It was assumed the show would enjoy an eight to ten-year run, but 30 years later, it is the most-watched drama on television.
  • Katherine Kelly Lang admitted that from the moment she shot her first episode, she felt like she was about to be part of something really big.
  • Before the advent of social media, writers and actors waited up to two weeks to get reactions to storylines from fans —usually by snail mail!
  • Bradley Bell has written for The Bold and the Beautiful since the show’s debut. Currently, there are more than 7,400 episodes.
  • Current viewership is 35 million per day across over 100 countries.
  • Co-Creator Lee Phillip Bell hosted her self-titled television talk show, The Lee Phillip Show. She was a forerunner in discussing important social issues like sexual assault, child abuse, and homelessness. Citing his mother as his inspiration, Bradley Bell tackled homelessness in a storyline involving Susan Flannery, who later won a daytime Emmy for her role.
  • Alley Mills was asked to be on the show for only 10 days, but eventually signed on as a series regular.

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