Say What?! Will The Bold And The Beautiful's Susan Flannery Fly The Coop?
Well paint me green and call me Gumby! The Bold and the Beautiful's showrunner/head writer Brad Bell has done it again with shocking viewers. Bell spoke with TV Guide's Michael Logan on the upcoming story dealing with Stephanie (Susan Flannery) being diagnoised with stage 4 lung cancer. Bell gives insight on what viewers can expect.
TV Guide Magazine: This is as horrible a prognosis as a writer could slap on a character. And for Stephanie to refuse treatment makes it even harsher and scarier. What's your thinking here?Bell: I wanted to create the biggest mountain possible for Stephanie to overcome. It's the weightiest, most intimate and difficult thing she has ever had to wrestle with and to have to share it with Brooke is torture. This is a story about a highly functioning woman that will delve deeply into issues of self-worth and denial. But it's not going to be morbid or depressing. Stephanie is determined to party right into her grave. It'll be a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
Bell also answers the million-dollar question, fans of "La Forrester" are wondering regarding Flannery's status at B&B.
TV Guide Magazine: You know this news will create mass panic among the Susan Flannery groupies. She even hinted at retirement in an interview a couple of years. Is she leaving the show? [Flannery declined to be interviewed about the new storyline.]Bell: Susan is as unpredictable as her performances. One never knows. We like to think that things are going to last forever but nothing does. She's done very well on The Bold and the Beautiful and before that on Days of Our Lives, and has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. We certainly hope it continues and we're all hoping Stephanie survives this...
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Comments
12 February 2010
7 hours 18 min
If Stephanie/Susan Flannery EVER leave this show permanently, this show's watchability will plummet sooooo much!!! I doubt that the show would recover from it. She's the best actress this show has ever had!!! Hope she stays.
4 May 2009
2 hours 53 min
Oh God!
I have loved Stephanie and Susan Flannery since Stephanie had her stroke back in 1991 that left her on the streets with Ruthanne and Adam. That was around when I started watching.
I can understand not wanting to work anymore and take time off to do whatever she wants.
I support that.
I just don't know if the show will be the same. I don't think so.
4 May 2008
1 year 41 weeks
Susan has been talking about retiring for years, but I truly doubt B&B would write out the character by having her succumb to cancer. It's awfully depressing for fans who have loved the show for over 20 years. However, Brad Bell could be trying to snag another Emmy, so I wouldn't put it past him.
28 June 2009
1 year 43 weeks
Susan Flannery is SO AWESOME. She IS The Bold and The Beautiful. I can't imagine the show without her, although I have read interviews where she hinted that she might not re-sign the next time her contract comes up. If she does die on the show, I can't see how the show would ever be the same. The last great loss was Darlene Conley, who I still remember with fondness and respect.
14 March 2009
4 days 22 hours
WISHFUL RECASTING: Erika Slezak as Stephanie Forrester. She's the only actress I can see pulling it off and OLTL's days are numbered...
6 May 2009
42 weeks 12 hours
The title should read may another soap bite the dust? She is the glue that's holding that show together. Get some ATWT stars on there, Eileen Fulton-Lisa or Elizabeth Hubbard-Lucinda, or Barbra-Colleen Zenk she can take on those Logan bimbos.
4 May 2009
2 hours 53 min
I hope Stephanie Forrester beats lung cancer like Alexis Davis did!
18 September 2010
2 years 15 weeks
If anyone has the inner strength to beat stage 4 lung cancer, it's Stephanie Forrester! Her journey will be a painful one and probably painful to watch but it may also allow a more loving (albeit short-lived) relationship to form between her and Brooke....Can you see Brooke stepping up to the plate and extending encouragement and perhaps herself to dear ole' mother-in-law! In any event, if the story's well written, then money and awareness can be raised for this disease.
6 February 2009
2 weeks 10 hours
First of all it is a soap so stage 4 lung cancer will only last 6 month's and she will be cured.
All I can say about that is I am glad she isn't on Y&R because I hate cancer storyline's with a passion and I want to watch Y&R to see Maura West. Hopefully they aren't currently doing any "I'm dieing for the next 6 month's" storyline's on that soap right now.
30 March 2009
4 days 14 hours
Lord have mercy...Susan Flannery if you leave this show....sigh
I hope this isn't the end storyline for her but if it is then I wish her the best and I know she will bring it in this storyline.
12 April 2009
29 weeks 3 days
If Stephanie goes, there won't really be any reason for me to watch the show. She is by far my favorite character. I can understand her wanting to retire, I don't blame her a bit, but when Susan retires, I will retire right along with her.
21 September 2010
2 years 34 weeks
Having had a malignant tumor removed 6 months ago and 7 weeks of radiation the LAST thing I want to watch is someone else going through it. This is not entertainment.
9 July 2009
1 year 2 weeks
Alistair, knowing Brad's beautiful writing that he did for the Pam/Ann/Stephanie storyline in which Ann died peacefully at Paradise Cove, I suspect he's got some really good material up his sleeve and we may be looking at B&B being a 3-peat in Drama Series Emmy wins and quite possibly two in row for writing.
19 September 2010
2 years 33 weeks
Didn't we just have a poorly executed cancer storyline on B&B's sister show? And didn't Betty White already do a dying storyline on B&B? Isn't there some other storyline that would guarantee Ms. Flannery another Emmy?
The answer to all three questions is YES. I don't want to see this.