The Bold and the Beautiful

The pilot episode of the show focuses on the preparations of the wedding of the Forrester's eldest son, Ridge, to Caroline Spencer Forrester, the daughter of the media mogul Bill Spencer. At this time Ridge has already become a fashion designer and vice president of Forrester Creations. Many media outlets throughout the world, from the big television networks to the most honorable newspapers, to the last gossip newspapers publicize their wedding, declaring it "the wedding of the year in the fashion world." Thousands of women see the pictures of Ridge and speculate on the identity of the woman who has won the heart of the man who has, until recently, been a playboy, and who has refused to settle for one woman.

One of the curious is Brooke, whose life soon becomes a key element in the series. Her love affair with Ridge sets up much of the storyline, beginning in the first year after the aforementioned "wedding of the year in the fashion world" was called off when Ridge was caught cheating on Caroline with an old flame. Every so often, Ridge and Brooke reunite only to break up due to various circumstances, and Ridge invariably finds comfort (in most cases, this would lead to marriage) with another love of his life, Taylor Hayes. Following one of her breakups with Ridge, Brooke marries his father, Eric, who divorces Stephanie to do so. Brooke gives birth to two of Eric's children. The couple eventually divorce and Eric reconciles with Stephanie. Likewise, Brooke and Ridge resume their pattern of an on-again-off-again relationship, between Brooke's relationships with other men and Forrester family members, and Ridge's multiple reunions with Taylor. Eric eventually marries Brooke's sister, Donna Logan, and legally adopts her son Marcus. They later divorce due to their family's bitter history.

The rivalry between Stephanie and Brooke also becomes a key storyline in the series. The strong willed Stephanie originally has a cordial relationship with the Logans after hiring their catering company. But she soon disapproves of Brooke becoming part of the Forresters' lives, believing she is an "opportunist from the valley" who swooped in after the "wedding of the year in the fashion world" was called off. Stephanie also does not initially recognize that Beth is the same woman who was Eric's former college girlfriend. Having marital problems since the start of series, Eric soon seeks the comfort of Beth. Once Stephanie learns of the affair, she secretly hires a private investigator to track down Steven Logan and then sends an anonymous letter to the Logan household as to his whereabouts. After Donna finally convinces their father to return home, Stephanie arranges with Bill Spencer to give Stephen a job in Paris. Only Brooke figures out that Stephanie was the one working behind the scenes. When confronted, Stephanie justifies her actions to Brooke saying that she is trying to save both of their families, and threatens Brooke that unless otherwise she will ruin her relationship with Ridge. After her parents reunite and move to Paris, and realizing to what extremes Stephanie would go to get what she wants, Brooke swears revenge.

Felicia and Kristen Forrester eventually choose to follow their own paths, leaving the family company to be run by Ridge, Thorne, Rick, Marcus, and their families. A key element of the show in the late 1990s was Brooke and Eric's son Rick's relationship with singer turned fashion designer Amber Moore.

The Spencer family and their media conglomerate Spencer Publications were first introduced in the pilot episode. Patriarch Bill Spencer was a widower and originally claimed that Caroline was his only daughter. A love triangle develops between Caroline, Ridge and Thorne, leading to a point in 1988 where a drunk Thorne shoots his older brother in the back (which Stephanie covers up to protect both of her sons by lying to authorities that it was her who shot the gun, thinking it was a burglar). After Caroline dies due to leukemia in 1990, her twin sister Karen Spencer, who was abducted from the Spencers when she was a baby, resurfaces. In 2009, Bill dies from a terminal illness, dividing Spencer Publications between Karen and his previously unknown illegitimate son, Bill Spencer Jr. The Spencers have been expanded in recent years to include Karen's daughter Caroline Spencer and Bill Jr.'s sons Wyatt Spencer, Liam Spencer, and Will Spencer.

For many years, Spectra Fashions was Forrester's main rival, headed by Sally Spectra. Sally, a larger-than-life character with outrageous clothes and a sizable red hair, is a key element in both comedic and dramatic storylines, with the help of long-time confidante Saul Feinberg, ditzy receptionist Darla Forrester, and fashion designer Clarke Garrison, who in 1991 fathered C. Garrison Fathman, Sally's son. Originally, Sally and Stephanie Forrester are bitter enemies; Spectra is only referred to in 1987 when Stephanie hires Clarke away from her rival. Sally and Spectra Fashions finally appear on-screen in 1989 when Clarke goes back to his former boss. In later years, Sally and Stephanie develop a friendship; Sally even ends up working at Forrester Creations in 2006 after she finally makes the decision to shut down her own company.

Sally's daughter, Macy Alexander, a singer, undergoes many traumas, most notably alcoholism. She and Thorne Forrester are involved in an on-again-off-again marriage. After she eventually loses Thorne to Brooke, Macy goes abroad and into hiding with her father, Adam in 2000. After being discovered in Italy in 2002, Macy returns to Los Angeles where she reunites with Thorne Forrester before developing an interest in fellow recovering alcoholic, Deacon Sharpe, whom she marries in 2003. Weeks later, Macy is gravely injured at a nightclub where she is headlining as a singer. She enters a coma and it is implied that her family pulls the plug off-camera.

The Spectra family and friends are gradually supplanted after the 2001 introduction of Massimo Marone and his entourage. Marone, a billionaire shipping magnate, was a childhood friend of Stephanie and dated her in college. They slept together once just before Stephanie began dating Eric Forrester, and after forty-something years, a medical crisis reveals that Massimo is actually Ridge's biological father. In 2003, Jackie Payne, a former lover of Massimo, arrives on the scene and announces that her son, Dominick "Nick" Payne, a captain at Marone Industries, was also fathered by Massimo. Unlike Ridge, Nick was not a businessman and took the surname Marone.

In 1986, CBS was on the hunt to replace Capitol, and contacted several writers and producers for proposals. Paul Rauch created Grosse Pointe as a replacement. During her absence from Ryan's Hope, Michael Brockman, former President of CBS Daytime, asked Claire Labine to develop a new serial in 1986. Her proposal was entitled Celebration but never made it to the air. Had it been greenlit, Jane Greenstein would have been Assistant to the Head Writer like she was on General Hospital. William J. Bell created The Bold and the Beautiful, which was originally titled Rags. On June 20, 2017, CBS announced its decision to renew the serial through the 2017–18 television season.[5][6] On April 20, 2020, CBS announced plans to begin airing a week of vintage episodes, following the soap's shutdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[7] On May 20, 2020, it was announced that CBS had renewed the soap through 2022.[8] On June 15, 2020, TVLine reported the series would be the first to resume production on June 17 as the first scripted series on American soil to get back up and running following Hollywood's three-month, coronavirus-imposed shutdown with a representative telling the website: "The health and safety of our cast and crew are of foremost importance to us, We will be following all protocols set forth by the State, City, Television City, and the various guilds."[9]

On March 2, 2022, it was announced that CBS had renewed the soap through 2024.[10]

B&B has been shot at Stage 31 at CBS Television City in Los Angeles for its entire run so far.[11] The show typically uses the traditional soap opera look, featuring constructed sets such as the Forrester Mansion, the Shady Marlin and the Forrester Creations offices. Like other soap operas, B&B is usually taped three to four weeks in advance. In recent times, the show has increased shooting on location, in the way fellow CBS soap Guiding Light did in its final two network years. Many of the characters have taken trips to the fictional "Bikini Beach" which is actually a nearby California beach, and there have been scenes around the Forrester Creations building which appear to be shot somewhere on the lot or inside of CBS Television City.

Pre-launch logo for The Bold and the Beautiful, used in promos

"High Upon This Love," the theme song of The Bold and the Beautiful, was written by David Kurtz and Jack Allocco and features a prominent saxophone sample played by Eric Marienthal. From November 1998 to July 1999 in the United States, a vocal version of the theme song performed by Dionne Warwick was played during the end credits.

For the 30th anniversary season in 2017, the show rolled out a title sequence based on the original used in one form or another from 1987 to 2004. At the same time, it also introduced an instrumentation of "High Upon This Love" based on the original.

John McCook (Eric Forrester) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan) are the only two cast members who have remained on the show since it first aired on March 23, 1987. During the show's first 25 years, McCook and Lang were part of the "core four" original cast members, the other two being Susan Flannery (Stephanie Forrester) and Ronn Moss (Ridge Forrester).[12] When Moss announced that he was leaving the show in August 2012, the role of Ridge was eventually re-cast. When Flannery also announced her departure later that year, it was decided to have Stephanie's character die after losing her battle with cancer. Two other original characters currently appear on the show, Donna Logan and Katie Logan, but both have been re-cast since the show's premiere.

Since the cancellation of Port Charles, it is currently the only American soap opera with a running time of 30 minutes (including commercials) and was the last remaining American soap broadcasting in the fullscreen standard-definition television picture format, until the show upgraded to 16:9 aspect ratio high-definition television in September 2011. Episodes airing in the United States air for approximately 19 minutes, while international broadcasts air to a runtime of approximately 21 minutes.[16]

The earliest DVD releases of The Bold and the Beautiful came in 2008 and 2009, when "Fan Favourites Collection" and "Best of Weddings" were released in Europe and Australia.[17][18][19][20] These DVD sets contained a random selection of 21 and 25 episodes, respectively, from 1987 up until that point in time. These sets sold well and from 2010 to 2011, Beyond Home Entertainment in Australia released another 3 sets containing a random selection of 25 episodes each.[21][22][23] These sets, however, only contained episodes from 2003 onwards, frustrating some long-term fans, as a large proportion of the show was left out.[24] One of these sets, entitled "Most Shocking Moments", was also released in the US on July 23, 2012, on the Amazon Video service, but only contained 15 episodes.[24]

The series was released from the very beginning in Germany (April 29, 2011),[25] Sweden (November 23, 2011), the United States (November 6, 2012)[26] and Australia (December 3, 2012).[27] All DVD sets contain 25 episodes, with the exception of the US release only containing 16. The German releases have sold well, with distributor Fernsehjuwelen having released box 2 later in 2011 and boxes 3-7 throughout 2012. Boxes 8, 9 and 10 are set for release in late 2014 through 2015.[28]

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) was the first major character to cross over to The Bold and the Beautiful. Sheila appeared on The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 1992 (returning as a guest in 1993, 1994, and 1995), and again from 2005 to 2006 (Michelle Stafford took over the role of Sheila from 2006 to 2007). She was on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1992 to 1998, with shorter-lived stints in 2002 and 2003, and from July 2017 to March 2018.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Molly Carter (Marilyn Alex) appeared several times after her daughter, Sheila, was revealed to be living in Los Angeles.

• The Young and the Restless: Eric Forrester (John McCook) called Lauren from his office to invite her to Los Angeles.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) crossed over to confront Sheila Carter about the photos of his tryst with Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman), fearing that he would lose custody of his daughter, Colleen, if they became public. Although Brad's threats were enough to make Sheila give up the photos, Lauren later discovered that there was still more evidence proving their affair.
• The Young and the Restless:Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery) appeared on Y&R to inform Lauren of Sheila's marriage to Eric.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Dr. Scott Grainger (Peter Barton) and Lauren Fenmore were vacationing on Catalina Island in November, where they were shocked to find Eric Forrester and Sheila Carter also on a romantic retreat. The character Scott Grainger died during this crossover, but not before he forgave Sheila for her past and begged Lauren not to reveal their history to Eric.

• The Young and the Restless: Eric Forrester (John McCook) appears at his office in Los Angeles to inform Sheila that Lauren will be coming to town.
• The Young and the Restless: James Warwick (Ian Buchanan) made a brief crossover when he called Lauren from Sheila's dungeon. Brad Carlton also makes an appearance.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman) crossed over to The Bold and the Beautiful, where she stayed until 1999, and briefly returned in 2002, 2004, and 2007. She had already appeared on the show several times prior to her becoming a regular cast member, mostly due to Sheila's crossover in 1992.

• The Young and the Restless: Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) crossed over to meet with Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) at his Newman Enterprises office in Genoa City, Wisconsin. In her effort to spice up the deal she's trying to work out, Brooke drops her jacket and reveals that she is wearing very little. Much to Victor's chagrin (and possible enjoyment), Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) walk in on the scene.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) crossed over to meet with Eric Forrester (John McCook), Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang), Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss), and Thorne Forrester (Winsor Harmon). The Forresters were looking for a new scent to go along with Brooke's Bedroom Line, and thought that Jabot Cosmetics could help.

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) appeared to meet with Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang), and to make Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) jealous. With prodding from Brooke, Victor agreed to kiss her, thus enraging Ridge and ruining his night out with Dr. Taylor Hayes Forrester (Hunter Tylo). (January 25 – 28, 1999)

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Dr. Tim Reid (Aaron Lustig), who was Phyllis Summers' therapist, moved to Los Angeles and helped Morgan DeWitt (Sarah Buxton).

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Lauren Fenmore's (Tracey E. Bregman) mother, Joanna Manning (Susan Seaforth Hayes), appeared in her capacity as a ranking employee of Fenmore's Department Stores. (May 15, 2003)

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman) received an angered phone call from the husband of her employee Jacqueline Payne Marone, who demanded to know if the two had really gone out drinking the night before like he was being told. Although she was caught off-guard, Lauren said they had, assuming Jacquie had a good reason for lying to her husband. In truth, Jacquie had told her husband this to help cover up her one night stand with Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan). (May 17–20, 2004)

• The Young and the Restless: Eric Forrester (John McCook) crossed over to warn Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) about Sheila Carter. (August 11, 2005)
• The Bold and the Beautiful: While eating lunch at the Café Russe in Los Angeles, Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) was approached by Massimo Marone (Joseph Mascolo). Massimo introduced her to friend Stephanie Douglas Forrester (Susan Flannery), the daughter of an old business acquaintance (John Douglas) belonging to Katherine. It was learned that Katherine was the actual owner of Forrester Creations, via the Stephanie Douglas Trust, which her associate's daughter sought to reclaim from her estranged husband (Eric Forrester). With Katherine's blessing, Stephanie achieved her goal, leaving the grand dame of Genoa City free to focus on her numerous other assets. (October 31 – November 1, 2005)
• The Young and the Restless: Eric Forrester (John McCook) crossed over to Genoa City, Wisconsin, a second time to attend the wedding of Michael Baldwin and Lauren Fenmore. (December 9, 2005)
• Lauren's mother, Joanna Manning (Susan Seaforth Hayes), appeared on both The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless (the latter in December to attend her daughter's wedding to Michael Baldwin).

• The Young and the Restless: In November Amber Moore (Adrienne Frantz) arrived in Genoa City to stay. (November 13, 2006)

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Lauren Fenmore appeared in January 19–22, 2007.
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) crossed over in early March when Eric Forrester put plans in motion to launch a fragrance line for his new fashion house, Forrester Originals. (March 9, 2007)
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Traci (Beth Maitland), Ashley Abbott's sister, also appeared in March, while talking to her sister on the telephone. (March 20, 2007)
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Abby Carlton (Darcy Rose Byrnes) joined Ashley in Los Angeles. (May 11, 2007)
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell) arrived in Los Angeles in June to defend Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) after he was arrested for the murder of Shane McGrath (Dax Griffin). Christine got the charges dropped after Rick Forrester's (Kyle Lowder) testimony. The Forresters thanked Christine and she returned to Genoa City. (June 12–21, 2007)
• The Young and the Restless: Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang), while at her office in Los Angeles, received a phone call from Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard) regarding his wife, Amber Moore. Brooke filled Cane in on her history with Amber, leaving Cane with even more questions about his marriage. (July 5, 2007)
• The Young and the Restless: Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) returned to visit her brother Jack Abbott and Victor Newman for the new year. (December 28, 2007 – January 3, 2008)

• The Young and the Restless: Eric Forrester (John McCook) met with Jack Abbott in February about the magazine Restless Style at Forrester Creations. During that same trip to Los Angeles, Jack and his wife, Sharon Abbott (Sharon Case), paid a visit to Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Abby Carlton (Darcy Rose Byrnes). (February 26–28, 2008)
• The Young and the Restless: In March, Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Felicia Forrester (Lesli Kay) flew to Genoa City for the launch of the magazine Restless Style. (March 25–26, 2008)
• The Young and the Restless: Felicia Forrester (Lesli Kay) crossed over in April on recurring status. (April 8, 2008-August 2008)
• The Young and the Restless: Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) crossed over at the end of June to attend the wedding of Victor Newman and Sabrina Costelana. Her daughter with Victor, Abigail "Abby" Carlton, was also in attendance as a flower girl. While back in Genoa City, Ashley was shocked to learn that Nikki Newman had beaten Victor to the punch; her brother, Jack Abbott, had allowed their former stepmother, Gloria Bardwell, to move into the pool-house; and that Jack and his wife, Sharon Abbott, were about to redecorate her childhood home. (June 19–23, 2008)

• The Young and the Restless: In July Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) arrived in Genoa City to stay.

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Amber Moore (Adrienne Frantz) returns from Genoa City to Los Angeles when Whip Jones asks her to work as a fashion designer at Jackie M, on July 1, 2010.

• The Bold and the Beautiful: Olivia Barber Winters (Tonya Lee Williams) attends wedding of her cousin, Justin Barber (Aaron D. Spears) and Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis).

• The Young and the Restless: In March Eric Forrester crossed over for two episodes for Victor's and Nikki's wedding. (March 18, 2013 – March 19, 2013)[39]
• The Young and the Restless: In May Oliver Jones (Zack Conroy) crossed over for two episodes. (May 21, 2013)

• The Young and the Restless: In April Rick Forrester (Jacob Young) and Caroline Spencer (Linsey Godfrey) crossed over for two episodes. (April 14, 2014)
• The Bold and the Beautiful: Gloria Abbott Bardwell appeared in November for a fashion show at Forrester Creations. (November 20, 2014)

• The Young and the Restless: The Forresters were mentioned by Devon Hamilton while planning for his wedding to Hilary Curtis.

• The Young and the Restless: Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra) crossed over in November 2020 on a full-time basis.[40]

• Robert Clary played Pierre Roulland on The Young and the Restless from 1973 to 1974, before playing Pierre Jourdan on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1990 to 1992.

• 2002
  • The Bold and the Beautiful: Host Bob Barker and the Models of The Price Is Right appeared to discuss the new fashion line by Amber Moore.
• 2008
  • The Price Is Right: Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) makes an appearance during the Showcase to offer a contestant a spot as an extra for a segment. The contestant won the Showcase.
    • Immediately after the contestant won, she was whisked away to Studio 31 for hair, makeup, and wardrobe before taping her segment. The segment was later posted on the Web site for the two shows.
• 2009
  • The Price Is Right: Dominick Marone (Jack Wagner) interrupts taping of Price (which is taped in the Studio 33; The Bold and the Beautiful is taped next door in Studio 31) on March 6. Wagner talks to Carey about soap appearances and "crashes" the taping. At the end of the show, a Marone-themed Showcase is presented.
  • The Bold and the Beautiful: Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) and Pam Douglas (Alley Mills) take a trip to The Price is Right in June, and to their surprise Donna becomes a contestant, ultimately winning both showcases.
  • The Price Is Right: Dominick Marone (Jack Wagner) and Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) appear together on June 19 to model wedding attire during a special "Ultimate Wedding Shower" edition of The Price is Right.
• 2010
  • The Price Is Right and The Young and the Restless: Stephen Logan (Patrick Duffy) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) appear in a war of words in a One Bid, then each present their own themed Showcase at the end of the show.
• 2011
  • The Price Is Right: A contestant on the March 2011 Ultimate Spring Break episode wins a walk-on role as an extra; that episode airs April 19 and is linked to the Web site of the show.
  • The Price Is Right: Thomas Forrester (Adam Gregory) models wedding attire for the Ultimate Wedding Shower episode along with show model Rachel Reynolds. The wedding attire is a prize on this episode.
• 2012
  • The Bold and the Beautiful: Tiffany Coyne meets the Forresters and Pam Douglas (Alley Mills), asking Pam and Nick to appear on Let's Make a Deal. Dominick Marone (as a lobster) and Pam Douglas (as a fisherman) appear in a deal.
  • Let's Make a Deal: Wagner appears to offer a contestant a walk-on role on the show, a common practice now with both CBS Daytime game shows with this show.
• 2013
  • The Price Is Right: Starting with Season 42, guest models often appear on the show. B&B stars Karla Mosley and Lawrence Saint-Victor appear as models after this practice begins, which continues into Season 43 (2014–15).
  • The Bold and the Beautiful: Former Executive Producer for both CBS Daytime game shows Mike Richards, and models Rachel Reynolds (Price) and Danielle Demski (Deal; substitute model for most of 2013–14) are employees of Forrester Creations, meeting with Thorne (Winsor Harmon) and Ally (Ashlyn Pearce).

Numerous former Big Brother houseguests have guest starred, occasionally making references to their time in the house.[41][42][43][44][45]