I fell in love with Bold and the Beautiful in 1989. I was on a Greek island, population a mere 1000 and I kid you not, for that half hour every afternoon, eerie silence fell in the streets.
I remember it like it was yesterday, my dad’s elderly sisters, widows who dressed in black, hot footing it up the hill from the marketplace to their village home, intent on watching “Ridge and Carolina”, back when things were good between Ridge and Carolina.
Unbeknownst to me then, this soap opera, Bold, which is what true fans call it, would be one to bring the guiltiest of pleasures for so many years to come.
In the afternoons during high school, while my parents worked, Bold was my electronic babysitter.
During university, I missed it at times but it was nothing a little light reading at the newsagency couldn’t correct. Throughout the long uni break, I would stop whatever I was doing for that half an hour a day and get my fix of all things Forrester.
Any fan would concur, there is no other plot quite like the Bold plot.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 26 years, I’ll tell you about a few of my favourite characters.
Brooke Logan
Why I love her
The torrid love affair between Brooke and Ridge, Brooke and Ridge’s brother, Thorne and Brooke and Ridge’s father, (who, as it turns out, is not his true father), Eric, has always been the central focus of the plot. Huge.
Since Brooke swanned into the Forrester’s life all those years ago, she’s brought nothing but drama. After developing the Belief Formula as a young Chemist, she’s held them over a barrel, taking not only the Forrester men but also their money, pride and the Forrester name.
My favourite story lines
My favourite scenes incorporate Brooke’s countless weddings, both bikini-clad and traditional and also the numerous vow affirmations. Without doubt, the best wedding scene of all time would have to be Brooke on horseback at the beach, galloping through the scrub to stop Ridge’s wedding to Taylor. Un-bloody-real.
The plot to end all plots involved Brooke’s sexual encounter on the dance floor, as you do, whilst chaperoning at her daughter’s party. She was wearing the same dress as her daughter, pendant included and after a horrible identity mix-up, she had stand-up sex on the terrace with her daughter’s boyfriend, Oliver, who she thought was Ridge! Ridge’s response to this tragic mistake: “Oh Logan!”
Above all, what I admire most about Brooke is not her determined character, her love for her man or her strong drive and passion. No. I most admire her ability to cry, on demand, with a single, elegant tear coming out of one eye, each and every time. Epic.
Taylor Hayes
Why I love her
What I love most about Doc, Ridge’s pet name for her, is that she is actually a Doctor – a Psychiatrist. And she is the dumbest, most short-sighted and naïve Psychologist in LA. Taylor Hayes, with her Botoxed face now void of all expression, is a complete idiot, making mistake after mistake, destroying her life with her ridiculous choices.
But what a life she’s had! She’s been married and divorced more times than I can remember, she’s had her heart broken, repeatedly – a result of her incorrect partner selection, she’s been killed and brought back to life, she’s been a ghost, she’s been kidnapped, she developed amnesia and was subsequently found by a Moroccan Prince, (who changed her name from Taylor to Layla).
Taylor too, has had it off with all of the Forrester men at different points but she has steadfastly remained an important third of the longest running love triangle in television history.
My favourite story lines
Aside from the murder attempts, kidnappings and broken hearts, the hardest thing, Taylor has had to endure was giving birth to Brooke’s baby. Yes, Brooke’s baby. After a mix-up at the IVF clinic, where Brooke’s daughter, (who grew up so very rapidly), worked as a Specialist, Taylor was impregnated with the incorrect egg. Brooke’s egg. What happened to baby Jack I am not sure but I can guarantee that he will return as a 20 year old some time soon.
Poor Taylor. Taylor Hayes is the biggest moron on Bold but I do love her.
Lastly, my reason for writing this post…
Stephanie Forrester.
My favourite lady on daytime television.
Just like Brooke, it brings a tear to my eye to announce that the matriarch of the Forrester family is finally dying. She has been there for every integral part of the story. She has schemed and lied and cheated her way through life, always with the greatest motivation in mind – her family.
She’s had her husband, Eric, ripped from her under dramatic circumstances, more than once. Both Brooke and Taylor have copped a feel of the Big E, with other names such as cray cray Sheila Carter and Lauren Fenmore, springing to mind as well. Stephanie has had a lifetime of her nemesis, Sally Spectra to contend with, with Sally always finding a creative way to steal Forrester designs.
Until recently, her life’s mission was to keep Brooke Logan away from her sons, namely Ridge. She has plotted and conspired against Brooke in so many situations, it’s actually difficult to remember them all. One stand-out memory is the Big Bear incident, where Stephanie got into serious fisticuffs with Brooke and terrorised her with a fire poker. Unexpectedly violent.
Stephanie. She’s been shot, been sick, had amnesia, been homeless, she’s had affairs, children out of wedlock and she’s had cancer, more than once. Towards the end of her life, after becoming a philanthropist for the homeless down at Skid Row, she finally reconciled with Brooke and realised while riding the Ferris Wheel, that despite all of the affairs, lies and turmoil between them, they really are kindred spirits. BFF.
Cancer will bring Stephanie’s life to an end. My last couple of Bold episodes involved an outstanding family bash at the mansion, complete with Celtic performers, then Eric driving Stephanie to the Big Bear cabin and making her comfortable. Just today, Brooke arrived to stay with her for a while.
Stephanie Forrester is about to die and this makes me sad. I’m predicting one more episode before it finally happens.
There will always be Forrester Creations and the Forresters, and there will always be delicious scandal but there will never be another Stephanie.
RIP Stephanie. Godspeed. I’m sure we’ll meet again via some tasteful montages and flashback scenes.
Robo X
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
I was a big Brooke and Ridge fan, I loved it when they were together, hated it when Taylor was around! I thought it was great when they thought Taylor had died, as Ridge could be with Brooke!
I used to get so emotionally involved, even at such a young age!! :).
I turned it on the other afternoon, have not watched it in years…..Eric has a massive double chin and Stephanie looks so old. 🙂
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
Couldn’t agree more. Ridge and Brooke belong together. Stat.
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
That is big news. I remember coming into my very posh grandmother’s house one day, and she hurriedly turned off the TV. She claimed to be watching “nothing”. The next time she wasn’t so quick. Here was Ms ABC TV addicted to Bold and The Beautiful.
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
I’ve been watching for the past.. 16 years 🙂 I am team taylor and now team steffy
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
We cannot be friends 😉
February 14th, 2013 at 20:51
Busted!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
I haven’t watched Bold for many, many years but I loved this post! So many memories! Can’t believe Stephanie is going to be killed off – really? And can’t believe the sex scene with Brooke and her daughter’s boyfriend – really? lol this soap takes the prize for most outlandish plots which is why I guess the fans love it 🙂 I believe I studied for my HSC in front of Bold and the other daytime soaps – and I did really well haha. I invite you to link this post up at Flashback Friday on my blog – Scott and Charlene, Bros and Dirty Dancing are there at the moment too 🙂
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
OH WE CAN BE BFF FO SHO!
I also studied in front of Bold… My holiday viewing schedule was Santa Barbara, Donahue, Sally Jessy OR Ricki Lake, then Oprah… And later in the day, Bold. 😉
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
What a great post! I haven’t watched it in years, but some of the reminders had me laughing out loud. Oh, and I haven’t heard the term “had it off” for ages 😉
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Thanks for reading 😉
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
I can’t say I’ve ever been a Bold fan but in late high school and a few years after I had an unhealthy obsession with Days of Our Lives. Haven’t had a chance to watch it since I started working full-time and then had Mia but I love that I can flick over to an episode every now and then and its the same people, same story lines as 15 years ago!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Of course! That’s the beauty of these shows.
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
But will Stephanie REALLY be gone? I don’t think you will ever truly know she’s gone until Susan Flannery (I looked it up) shuffles off this mortal coil too. And still… even then…
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Hehe! True. She could return as ghost. Sally Spectra returns from time to time to offer advice!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
I’ve always loved Bolders. I go for great stretches without watching it, but always manage to catch up quickly! 🙂
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
PS. I’m sure you would have seen this video. But it’s always good for a laugh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pNOFPHUl-Oo
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
I hadn’t. It’s great!! You are a fan at heart if you call it Bolders!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Also my guilty pleasure!! The drama, the drama. I’m a bit of a fan of Steffy, and loather of Hope!! The mistaken identity sex with Hope’s boyfriend was truely an inspired piece of writing!! haha. But still, I’m hooked!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
The mistaken sex partner plot was the best thing I have ever seen! And wWhat was with that song?! I prefer Brooke to Taylor but I also prefer Steffy to Hope.
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Oh I used to love the B & the B when my kids were little … the fashion, the glitz, the eye candy! It just won’t be the same without Stef.
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Agreed. The Forresters will move on though. There will still be glitz and glam.
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Hilarious Robomum. I’ve never watched a full episode yet I know all the characters of which you speak. It has seeped into popular culture and now I’ve heard some of those truly over the top storylines, maybe I should give it a real go!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Over the top is an understatement.
You must tune in!
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
Such an elegant cry does Brooke have “the one eyed cry” lol it always gives me a giggle. I’m huge Bold fan actually I’m kind of obsessed !! And I know for sure I will be sobbing like an idiot (from both eyes) when Stephanie finally closers her eyes 😦
February 15th, 2013 at 20:51
LOL!
It will be a very sad moment.
But I’m predicting a MASSIVE Forrester Creations shake-up to take our minds off it.
February 16th, 2013 at 20:51
Oh, I haven’t watched the Bold and the Beautiful in YEARS! But what? Stephanie Forrester is dying??! Nooo! That’s like soap opera history making a huge turn!
How’s Ridge going to be when she’s gone??
February 16th, 2013 at 20:51
Grace, you must tune in. Ridge left the show a couple of months ago!
February 17th, 2013 at 20:51
I could have written this post! Like you, when I was at high school, The Bold and The Beautiful was my babysitter, and when I was studying at Uni, I always stopped to watch it and take an afternoon break in my studies. I’m sad Stephanie is dying but the question is who’s Brooke next man? Bill Spencer?…
February 17th, 2013 at 20:51
You + Me = BFF!
Considering Bill Spencer’s full frontal nudity the other day I don’t doubt that Bill and Brooke will get it on…
Remember the ‘hallucinations’ going on at the dinner table between them??
February 18th, 2013 at 20:51
I do remember the hallucinations! Haha! But I have a feeling Katie will be back on track soon. I’m off to watch it now!
February 19th, 2013 at 20:51
I’ve gotta tell yah you crack me up but I just can’t do it – sorry! I used to LOVE Coronation Street – a UK soap – does that count?! All I can say is sorry for your loss xxx
February 19th, 2013 at 20:51
LOL! I dealt with it surprisingly well…
February 25th, 2013 at 20:51
[…] on the internet probably a lot more than the average person. I’m also guilty of watching ridiculous TV, most of the time. I accept that both pastimes could be deemed by some as pointless or […]
February 28th, 2013 at 20:51
Loooooooooove this! I tell people I only watch The Bold for the outfits. Yeah, right!
February 28th, 2013 at 20:51
LOL. Good excuse!