Bold & Beautiful Resumes Production After Bell-Phillip Television Staffer Allegedly Tested Positive
CBS soap opera is keeping cast and crew updated.
Updated August 21: On the tail of this morning’s news, involving what could have been a backstage nightmare at B&B and Y&R, Deadline is reporting that a little over three weeks ago, a worker with Bold and the Beautiful’s production company Bell-Phillip Television tested positive. The CBS soap was able to move up its dark week, has now returned back to production and its schedule is said not to have been affected.
Back on June 24 we reported that Bold and Beautiful will resume filming today after a delay sidelined plans to return to production yesterday, Tuesday June 23. Previous viral testing, a requirement for getting back to work safely, had resulted in false positives that drew questions from the health department. Deadline reported that Bell-Phillip Television has switched labs and resolved all issues.
On June 18, Bold and the Beautiful ‘paused’ production during their first day back on set at the Television City Studios. A spokesperson for a Bell-Phillip Television producer told Variety that the decision was made to “better accommodate the large volume of testing needed.” During the brief pause the testing protocol will be modified. Though the CBS soap opera did successfully film scenes on Wednesday June 17, safety remains their number one priority. The cast and crew plan to resume shooting on Tuesday June 23, which could include the B&B stars’ real-life partners used to safely film intimate scenes.
On June 15, Don Diamont (Bill Spencer) shared an Instagram post of himself wearing a face covering in front of a welcome back Bold & Beautiful sign. He wrote, “HERE. WE. GO. Every bit of safety protocol imaginable is in place, and Bold & Beautiful is back in production!!! LET’S ROLL!!!” Deadline is reporting that the CBS soap will resume production on Wednesday June 17 with a possible return to television early to mid-July. Cast and crew have been tested, and will continue to be, with a coordinator on hand to make sure safety protocols are being followed. There will be shorter work days and call times and some scripts have been reworked. Face covering will be mandatory unless actors are filming. As soon as we get news of other soap opera’s resuming production, we’ll be sure to update readers.
Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) followed suit by posting on her Instagram page, “So excited to be going back to work this week!! My first day back after 4 months is on Thursday! I am soooo happy!! I had to take off my mask for the photo so you could see me smile😃😃😃😃 @boldandbeautifulcbs here we come! Let’s do this! Protocol and all! #boldandbeautiful #cbsdaytime”
On June 5 we reported, Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful may be looking to restart production as early as June 12 according to Variety.
Meanwhile, Deadline had reported May 15 Bold and Beautiful producers sent a memo to cast and crew signaling that preparation has begun for a possible June 13 restart, but stressed that “this is just a projected start date and, while the producers are making preparations, the situation remains fluid.” It was also noted that “official safety protocols endorsed by the Hollywood unions, as well as guidelines set by CBS Television City, where the series is shot, the city of Los Angeles and the state of California need to be in place for any filming plans to move forward.” What scenes might look like with actors and crew having to take precautions remains to be seen, though it’s possible they’d employ techniques and creative camera angles already being used by Australian soap opera, Neighbours, which is already back taping episodes.
Bold and Beautiful suspended production in mid-March following an emergency order by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to strengthen the city’s response to viral crisis that placed temporary restrictions on restaurants, bars, and other establishments, and which remains in effect. Sister soap opera The Young and the Restless shut down at the same time as both tape at the CBS Studios, and the initial expectation was that the work stoppage would be for two weeks. Instead, it’s been two months, with numerous soap events also affected by cancelations.
Bold and Beautiful ran out of previously-filmed original episodes as of Thursday April 23, after which they aired a two-part documentary of behind-the-scenes footage from a past location shoot in Monte Carlo entitled Becoming Bold and Beautiful. The news hasn’t been all bad, however, as viewers have been treated to classic episode theme weeks featuring some of the favorite fashion shows, rivalries, and weddings from the past, which have been airing in Bold and Beautiful’s usual time slot.
Take a look at the gallery below of who’s who in the Bold and Beautiful cast.
