The Bold and the Beautiful Watching The Bold and the Beautiful

[Daniel Avery]

From what I gather, the soaps mostly employ "wardrobe staff" (not "costume designers") these days. They go shopping with the actors to build up their onscreen wardrobe. They apparently shop much more mainstream stores, though I'm sure they also hit designer shops for some key pieces. B&B likely tries to purchase from more mid-price designers (not JC Penney or Target!) when they have to write stories of characters' "original designs", and the designers may give them a better rate for the stuff since it will give that designer some prominent placement on a major TV show. I've seen footage from wardrobe areas for the soaps where they have racks of clothing (and plastic tubs of accessories) marked with character names, sort of like the character's "closet". This keeps the continuity police happy, since the same items keep being worn by the same character.

In the past, certain "famous names" in clothing would get a mention in the credits for literally loaning clothing to the show for characters to wear. Ohrbach's was apparently a big New York City department store in the 1960s, because I see "Fashions Provided by Ohrbach's" in the closing credits of both Dark Shadows and The Doctors. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s most of the wedding gowns on the New York-based soaps were on loan from I. Kleinfeld and Sons. Fur coats (yes, they were big back then) and "statement" jewelry pieces would also be on loan from some well-known store and be returned after filming.

Also, the major studios have cavernous stockpiles of wardrobe pieces that have been purchased and kept over the years. B&B and Y&R are shot at CBS Television City, where they've been producing TV shows for decades. When a show gets cancelled, all those costumes (and furniture and set decor) is left behind if the producer doesn't sell it off. I'm sure CBS lets all the various shows dip into those warehouses just as the various shows dip into the set-pieces, backdrops, and furniture warehouses. I would guess the day-players and extras in party scenes and such end up wearing stuff borrowed from that warehouse.

 

[Emelee]

B&B has a costume designer, Glenda Maddox. They also have an executive producer working with clothes & styling. The costume team design some outfits. Especially for fashion shows where the outfits are "Forrester originals". But lots of the outfits are bought from Nieman Marcus, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue & TopShop etc.

How they can afford it? Maybe they sell the clothes after a character have worn it? They seldom to never use the same outfit more than once. I doubt they have room to keep everything except what the costume department have made themselves or the special pieces.

 

[Daniel Avery]

B&B would likely get raked over the coals if their characters didn't have sharper-than-average clothing choices, for sure. But even when they do buy off the rack, the wardrobe staff can embellish things and add original accessories as part of the alteration/tailoring process. Being the Costume Designer for a fashion-oriented show like B&B must be like being a kid in a candy store, and she likely makes all the other soaps' Costume Designers insanely jealous by having so much to play with. I frequently see characters on GH re-wearing the same items (just like us normal folk!), and Days has cut their budget so deeply that I think they have one cardigan sweater that they pass around to all the actors.

 

[Emelee]

B&B would likely get raked over the coals if their characters didn't have sharper-than-average clothing choices, for sure. But even when they do buy off the rack, the wardrobe staff can embellish things and add original accessories as part of the alteration/tailoring process. Being the Costume Designer for a fashion-oriented show like B&B must be like being a kid in a candy store, and she likely makes all the other soaps' Costume Designers insanely jealous by having so much to play with. I frequently see characters on GH re-wearing the same items (just like us normal folk!), and Days has cut their budget so deeply that I think they have one cardigan sweater that they pass around to all the actors.

How sad it is that the daytime soaps have such low budgets. The networks could do so much more considering that you can stream each episode for a period of time whenever you wish. It's no longer watch it live when it airs or never get another chance. They should promote them like "bedtime stories" as well. Something you watch before you go to bed in the evening. Put on your jammies and slippers, make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and relax to your favourite soap. Something to attract more people to watch these soaps where you don't have to engage your mind, just sit back and relax. Maybe the ratings would improve and then they can raise the budget.

The way it is now, it is obvious that the networks don't care about their daytime line-up. It's plain filler before primetime.

 

[Monzo]

Some extracts from SOD interview with Erica Pelosini:

"Brooke, I love dressing her... We’ve been using a lot of Tom Ford power suits... We’ve also been using a lot of Chanel jackets."

"I dress Zoe a lot in Gucci. She does some Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Fendi. Very fashionable brands.”

"Finn has been doing a lot of Thom Browne and Zadig & Voltaire, a lot of these brands that are more French, or even some Yves Saint Laurent that are slim fit.”

"I dress Liam a lot in RRL, the Ralph Lauren vintage brand... but sometimes, also some Topshop or H&M. Very easy but mix and match, sometimes some Brunello Cucinelli, as well, for his work look.”

 

[Daniel Avery]

They should promote them like "bedtime stories" as well. Something you watch before you go to bed in the evening

That was the original strategy of SoapNet. back when niche cable channels were viewed as the 'wave of the future'. ABC/Disney created the channel expressly to re-air their afternoon soaps in prime time (and touted it as the new, shiny thing). By the time I got the channel they'd tried to diversify, adding Days and Y&R, but it was the victim of terrible management and 'mission creep' (reality shows). But it was really nice to watch One Life to Live every evening. And of course by the time they ended SoapNet there were only four network soaps left--with only one of them on ABC.

Ironically, the only soap they did not air in the evenings at some point was....B&B!

 

[Emelee]

That was the original strategy of SoapNet. back when niche cable channels were viewed as the 'wave of the future'. ABC/Disney created the channel expressly to re-air their afternoon soaps in prime time (and touted it as the new, shiny thing). By the time I got the channel they'd tried to diversify, adding Days and Y&R, but it was the victim of terrible management and 'mission creep' (reality shows). But it was really nice to watch One Life to Live every evening. And of course by the time they ended SoapNet there were only four network soaps left--with only one of them on ABC.

Ironically, the only soap they did not air in the evenings at some point was....B&B!

With streaming, you don't have to add a lot of crappy filler shows at least. They really should take advantage of technology more and create "An evening with CBS" or whatever network. A time where they promote the series that were broadcasted earlier in the day on telly. A chance to catch up and make a network family feeling. All series as part of the network family. Airing nice promos of what you have missed during the day and inviting people to stream these series as they unwind after a busy day. How difficult can it be to create a cozy feeling?

 

[Daniel Avery]

It was a lot easier for ABC to re-purpose their soaps in the evening because they "owned" them. Since Y&R and Days are owned by Sony, the owners of such a service would have to sign licensing deals, exchange money, etc. for the right to air those. That's why it took so long for those two to show up on SoapNet, and why they were the first to disappear when SoapNet began to fail. B&B is still mostly owned by the Bell family (I think) and they obviously never achieved a deal with SoapNet--I always assumed that was because B&B was doing just fine with international sales and did not "need" to be on SoapNet. A lesser-known cable channel called Pop (co-owned by CBS/Viacom) carried same-day episodes of Y&R and B&B for many years after SoapNet folded up. Pop opted out of the deal eventually---even though those reruns were the highest-rated programs on that channel! The episodes aired in early prime (6:30 to 8pm), too. If Pop had decided to stick with their deal and expanded its CBS offerings, you may have gotten what you suggest.

 

[Mrs Bobby James Ewing]

I love Steffy and Finn as a couple. I am so happy that they are engaged to married with a baby on the way and that Steffy finally removed that huge picture of her and Liam off her wall.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I agree! It is nice to see Steffy and Finn hopefully get their happy ending now that the paternity test fiasco has finally been settled. I really like them as a couple too. The picture of she and Liam being taken down was long overdue for me.

 

[Emelee]

It was a relief when that picture came down. While it is a gorgeous photo, it shouldn't be up there anymore. If anywhere, it can be in Kelly's room.
Steffy and Finn have great potential. I hope they don't ruin it.

I am curious if it's a boy and they will really name him John Finnegan Jr. I am not a fan of Junior-names. But if they choose John after Finn, can't they go with Forrester? John Forrester. Why always the father's last name? Finn could change his name to John "Finn" Forrester.

 

[Monzo]

In newest issue of Soap Opera Digest actors been asked: What celebrity have you been mistaken for? Here are the answers by B&B stars!

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood: Megan Fox
Annika Noelle: Liv Tyler
Lawrence Saint-Victor: OJ Simpson

 

[Monzo]

Is taking the Logan name really an honor for Flo? If B&B was the real world the public eye would call the Logan sisters golddiggers, because every one of them married a rich man.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Ur probably right @Monzo but with all that money I don’t think they would care what anyone thought.

 

[Rove]

The way it is now, it is obvious that the networks don't care about their daytime line-up.

But is it that the networks don't care or the viewer? Watching B&B on Friday in which Steffy learns Finn is the father of her unborn child was boring to watch. Why is B&B still dishing out this trash which has been done to death in all soaps. Articles suggest B&B ratings - and others - have shrunk. I would have thought with Covid-19 lockdowns the reverse should have happened. If the ratings are falling this implies viewers no longer care for the stories and characters/actors the producers seem to think is working. Why do producers/writers have a hard time acknowledging this?

So if the ratings are failing the networks cannot insist on higher fees from advertisers which then has a flow-on effect with budgets and what is presented on screen. And at the moment this really shows with the never ending Liam/Steffy/Hope and Finn story. The creative types behind the scenes are lazy because they are simply rehashing what we've already witnessed in days gone by with B&B with Brooke/Ridge and Taylor. I'd imagine Bradley Bell would be a little nervous because I'd suspect the number crunchers at CBS at a moments notice might decide to cancel the series.

And if they did...it wouldn't be missed.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I never would’ve said this at one time but if CBS did decide to cancel B&B I probably wouldn’t miss it at this point.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I think the main reason stories on all the soaps (not just B&B) have languished in the "predictable" and "repetitive" areas has to do with a fear of innovation due to the restricted budgets. In the early 2010s, when they were cancelling shows left and right, producers recognized they had to go into survival mode. Innovation and risk had to be pushed aside in favor of the tried-and-true, since the networks had the ax out and might come for your show next if you have stories that make them "nervous". They just never got out of survival mode. If one show decides to try something different, it places them in the spotlight...or some would say, places them in the line of fire. If their experiment fails, it will fail with all eyes on it (like Guiding Light in 2008-9, and the online versions of All My Children and One Life to Live ). Some of the producers likely feel that as long as they keep their heads down and 'blend in' with the other shows, their show will continue to be renewed, which is basically the main goal these days (to stay on the air, as opposed to producing some great work of art). Story options are also limited by budget--virtually every soap writer I've seen interviewed will speak of story ideas that, while sounding good, had to be nixed simply because it would have been too expensive or too unwieldy to produce within the constraints of the studio space.

The Exec Producer of each show holds the lives and careers of 100-150 people (as well as their families) in their hands, so any decision to do something drastic or unique with their show has to be weighed against the very real chance that such a decision might throw all those people out of work. In years past there were options to get hired by other soaps, but obviously those jobs are drying up.

 

[DallasFanForever]

@Daniel Avery I have to admit I do understand everything you just said. It’s just so sad though, isn’t it? It’s sad that these shows are now virtually handcuffed from being creative anymore. Everyone is so quick to blame the writers but as you pointed out there’s really so much more that goes into it.

 

[Monzo]

Right now I'm close to original run, but there has been times when I was weeks behind with B&B and it happened more than once that I started to watch an episode and after a few minutes I thought: "I've already seen it, this is the wrong episode!" So I checked, but it was the right episode. No soap around the world got more repeated dialoges than B&B.

The biggest surprise about B&B is that it still got viewers outside of the US. It's stiil big in Italy, In it's soap afternoon block there are fresh soaps from Spain and Turkey and then there's the very old-fashioned B&B. It's not no 1 every day anymore like it used to be over decades, but it's still a hit. Maybe it's because it's airing during siesta time, so viewers can doze off... Australia also got better soaps than B&B. Neighbours and Home And Away can be lame sometimes, but overall it got much more depth than B&B, so I wonder why there are still enough viewers attracted to B&B to keep it on air there.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I guess it’s a testament to how popular this show was in its heyday. Nostalgia maybe? A lot of us tend to look at our shows through rose colored glasses and not realize just how bad things are getting until much later. I know I can be guilty of that.