Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church.
1991: The final episode of Twin Peaks aired on ABC.
2009: Guiding Light's Josh and Olivia shared a kiss.
2010: Amanda and Jake were married on All My Children.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church.
1991: The final episode of Twin Peaks aired on ABC.
2009: Guiding Light's Josh and Olivia shared a kiss.
2010: Amanda and Jake were married on All My Children.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church.
1991: The final episode of Twin Peaks aired on ABC.
2009: Guiding Light's Josh and Olivia shared a kiss.
2010: Amanda and Jake were married on All My Children.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

'The Young and the Restless' 11,000th Episode To Feature Lee Phillip Bell & Nichelle Nichols

Christian LeBlanc and Lee Phillip Bell

CBS is airing the 11,000th episode of The Young and the Restless on Thursday, September 1. In the special episode, fans will be treated to appearances by legendary Y&R Co-Creator Lee Phillip Bell and Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols. For the residents of Genoa City, "the drama continues as relationships are tested, scores are settled, and lives are changed forever."

In the behind the scenes video below, Christian LeBlanc (Michael) chats with Ms. Bell and his fellow cast members about Y&R, with some wonderful classic clips sprinkled throughout.

Lee Phillip Bell Will Appear on 11,000th Episode of 'The Young and the Restless'

Lee Phillip Bell

In honor of The Young and the Restless' 11,000th episode, someone who played an integral role in the show’s inception will make a cameo on the CBS sudser.

On its September 1st episode, show co-creator Lee Phillip Bell will make a cameo. Her character encounters real-life daughter Lauralee Bell and on-screen husband Doug Davidson, reported TV Insider.

“We won’t spoil the deets but, trust us, it’s super charming,” reported the site.

Bell and late husband William J. Bell co-created The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. Mrs. Bell became a talk show icon in Chicago, winning 16 local Emmys during her storied career. In 2007, she was honored with the Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work in daytime serials.

Akbi Khan has been a soap mega-fan for 31 years. She has been writing about them and working to save the soap genre for several years. Last May she got her Master’s in rhetoric and composition, for which she completed a thesis on the Save Our Soaps (SOS) movement and created her own SOS group, thistimeitsforever.org. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, activism for various progressive causes, traveling down her spiritual path, rollerskating, going dancing, anything having to do with language or words, and laughing heartily and often, and more. You may reach her at akbikhan@gmail.com.

RELATED:
- FLASHBACK: He's (Bill Bell) Wed to a Celebrity (1958)
- FLASHBACK: Lee Phillip is a Success in Any Rating (1976)
- Lee Phillip Bell: Bill 'didn’t even remember who I was, but he was loving and caring until the end'

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church.
1991: The final episode of Twin Peaks aired on ABC.
2009: Guiding Light's Josh and Olivia shared a kiss.
2010: Amanda and Jake were married on All My Children.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church. 1991: The
final episode of Twin Peaks. 2009: Guiding Light's Josh
and Olivia shared a kiss. 2010: Amanda and Jake were
married on All My Children.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

1981: General Hospital's Luke went to church. 1991: The
final episode of Twin Peaks. 2009: Guiding Light's Josh
and Olivia shared a kiss. 2010: Amanda and Jake were
married on All My Children.

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies."
- Alexis de Tocqueville

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: On NBC radio soap opera The Guiding Light, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Celebrates 41 Years (Video)

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS premiered 41 years ago today. The cast and crew celebrated the anniversary on Tuesday. Watch a video from the celebration from CBS 2 in Los Angeles.

Today in Soap Opera History (June 10)

On this date in...

1941: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Myrna returned to San Francisco in a depression and tried to bury her grief by returning to her broadcasting career. Martin Kane thought she was sad because her ex-husband, Ned Holden (Ed Prentiss), was marrying Mary Rutledge (Sarajane Wells) but Myrna told him that wasn't the case. She confessed that she met a man on the East Coast and fell in love with him. Myrna refused to give details, but said that the relationship ended. Martin said that she may have misinterpreted the entire affair and that he'll wait for her.

NEWS: ABC Desperately Seeking Katie Couric Replacement; Plus, Joanna Johnson, Kay Alden, Heather Tom, Lee Phillip Bell, Brenda Greenberg

Sources: ABC desperately seeking Katie Couric replacement
“It’s an unmitigated disaster,” one seasoned studio executive said. “One of the biggest failures ever in syndication. Terrible ratings, no growth, shouldn’t be on the air. Where did it miss the mark? Let’s start with her, she is dreadfully boring. The show offers nothing new to the audience, nothing to say.”

In January, Disney-ABC Domestic Television officially renewed Couric’s syndicated talk show, which airs in stations spanning more than 95 percent of the country, for a second season through fall 2013. A source closely connected to Couric insisted that the news woman is working closely with ABC and is still very much wanted by the network. But as it stands, we’re told it is almost a certainty there will be no season three.

Lee Phillip Bell will make another cameo on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Mrs. Bell will next appear on the show July 23.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Joanna Johnson Dishes The Fosters and Her "Gayest Year Ever"
"There are so many interesting issues that come up in this series (THE FOSTERS), and Stef and Lena being a same-sex couple isn't a big one because the series is set in California where gay adoption is increasingly common. But in many other states this is an issue, because gay couples or single gay people are not allowed to adopt or foster, and that's a real shame. There are a lot of wonderful families willing and wanting to get into the program but the law in some places just won't allow it."

"Yes! I do feel bad [about abandoning THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL], even though [B&B exec producer] Brad Bell always knew that was the deal. My writing-producing always comes first. But it does look like I'll be going back to B&B pretty soon. Brad and I are talking about my returning for a really fun story in July when The Fosters has wrapped for the season. I really do miss B&B — both the people and the news. I went to the GLAAD awards a while back with Crystal Chappell [Dani] and Linsey Godfrey [Caroline] and found out that Karen's daughter has turned into a total badass crazy person since the last time I was on the show. I couldn't believe it! [Laughs] Clearly, I need to come back. That girl needs some mothering!"

CLASSIC CLIP: Merry Christmas From The Bell Family

In 1968, Lee Phillip Bell welcomed her husband, Bill, and sons Billy (age 6) and Bradley (age 4 with his tongue out above, now executive producer and head writer of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), as guests on THE LEE PHILLIP SHOW, her hugely popular local Chicago talk show that ran for years. Watch the segment below which was taped just before Lauralee Bell was born.

Lee Phillip Bell: Bill 'didn’t even remember who I was, but he was loving and caring until the end'

Legendary Chicago television personality Lee Phillip Bell, the wife of the late William J. Bell, who helped co-create The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, has penned a wonderful article for the Sun-Times talking about the great romance of her life.

Bill decided to leave advertising when he was hired by legendary television writer Irma Phillips, who created “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns.” He stayed with her for 10 years, learning the industry and making trips to New York.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.32 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL Turns 25: Brad Bell & Lee Phillip Bell Reflect

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to the set of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL executive producer/head writer Brad Bell and co-creator Lee Phillip Bell reflect on the show's 25th anniversary.

Watch our latest episode below.

B&B Exec Producer/Writer Brad Bell Among Investors Purchasing Chicago Sun-Times

A local investment group is acquiring the media company that includes the Chicago Sun-Times, taking over from owners who purchased it out of bankruptcy under the direction of the late James Tyree.

The buyers include Michael Ferro Jr., chairman of Merrick Ventures LLC, a private equity firm that deals with technology companies. Ferro, who will serve as chairman, is bringing in media executive Timothy Knight to run the company as chief executive and as an investor.

Also among the investors is Bradley Phillip Bell, president of Bell-Phillip Television Productions, which produces THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. He is the son of Chicago TV pioneer Lee Phillip Bell who had a long-running talk show on WBBM-TV.

To accomplish the deal, the investors created a new company with the pun-laden name Wrapports LLC. Knight said the name refers to a mix of old media — the “wrapping” of a newspaper — with the rapport promised by new technology. He said the company will buy other ventures or launch its own tech startups.

RELATED:
- FLASHBACK: He's (Bill Bell) Wed to a Celebrity 1958
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.87 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL at the Daytime Emmys

FLASHBACK: He's (Bill Bell) Wed to a Celebrity 1958

He's Wed to a Celebrity

She's Lee Phillip--and Their Marriage Is Successful

By Norma Lee Browning
Chicago Daily Tribune
August 27, 1958

What's it like, being married to a celebrity wife?

"It takes some adjusting," admits Bill Bell Jr., who still hankers to be known by his own name instead of Mr. Lee Phillip.

Lee happens to be Mrs. Bill Bell Jr., [instead of vice versa] but her public knows her as Lee Phillip, that wholesomely beautiful blonde darling of television. She and Bill have been wed three and a half years.

He was disconcerted at first to hear his wife mumble sweet nothings in his ear that were really television commercials.

"But," he explains, "she's a hard working girl and it takes her hours to learn those TV bits."

Fortunately he has a broad minded outlook on fame. Lee lightly accuses him of marrying her out of sympathy. He says she married him to acquire a script writer.

FLASHBACK: Lee Phillip is a Success in Any Rating (1976)

Lee Phillip is a success in any rating

By Mary Daniels
Chicago Tribune
April 4, 1976

Lee Phillip is not the kind of character her husband, Bill Bell, would write into one of his soap operas.

Yes this stable, pleasant woman as hostess of her own daily show on WBBM-TV (Channel 2) is as much must-viewing for a large segment of Chicago as the soaps. She has been around as long as some of them, too - 23 years.

Why has Lee lasted?

One gets a clue on tour of her airy, elegant apartment on East Lake Shore Drive overlooking Oak Street Beach.

Her husband, who writes two highly addictive soap operas, DAYS OF OUR LIVES and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, has staked out most of the dining room with his work desk and jumbo TV set. A small book-lined den is his, also.