B&B: Should KKL use more of her power?

[bakedghoti]

Tons of interviews of brad bell, patrick mulcahey, la flannery, rm, jm, etc. have them stating how nice and easy to work with kkl is. They all say how she never complains about the script and just acts the part as she's told. Mulcahey even mentioned how whenever he writes Brooke wrong, it shows onscreen since KKL acts the part very specifically and is very humble as an actress. Either La flannery or La Lang mentioned one time in an interview that they only looked at each other uncomfortably when they didn't think the script was right, and it was changed. KKL mentioned in many interviews how she doesn't tell the writers, directors, etc what to do. It seems like KKL is easygoing and a model soap star employee.

However, do you think she should use her power more? She is after all one of the 2 major divas on b&b, one of the most watched shows in the world. Her character Brooke, whether you love her or hate her, is essentially a huge part of the show since either brooke or stephanie propel the storylines. The characters are drawn to the gravitational pull of the 2. And SF and KKL are huge parts of why b&b is an international success.

The only time KKL ever suggested a storyline for brooke is the rape, and she had to pitch the idea to brad twice. Of course brad bell wrote and botched that storyline up, but that's beside the point. Should KKL use her power more? Tons of soap stars demand this or that (ahem Kim Zimmer). There have been a few times where RM was unhappy with Ridge's storyline, and stated it in interviews. He was unhappy with Ridge sleeping with Brooke while she was sedated and involved with Nick. And he didn't want Ridge paired with brooke or taywhore at one point, so the show paired him with donna. Should KKL use her power more to influence storylines?

[JackPeyton]

Soap stars using there power... i dont know. I like it sometimes and hate it others.

I understand where they come from, but at the same time, they could be jobless and just shut up and do there job.

IMHO, when they do use there power and say they should do so behind the scenes and keep it private.

[Matt P.]

I'm only hoping that KKL gets the appreciation she deserves with a shiny golden Daytime Emmy statue! She's such a talented actress and has been for the past 20 years.

[Cat]

On the whole, I like that the Core Four on B&B are judicious about expressing their preference or discontent about SLs. They are loyal to B&B and the Bells and have been wise in the way they exercise their power (Susan Flannery going on vacation right after the Brooke/Stephanie rape thing was a quiet statement to the PTB and to them only, I heard).

I think KKL is very talented. She works some pretty tough material to make it come across as real as she possibly can. And she is not afraid to play material that makes her character look bad (which is increasingly a lot of the time). She glows regardless. Really, when KKL is in a scene, I cannot take my eyes away from her. She has that X-factor that surprisingly few actors have, IMO. Vanessa Marcil had it. Maura West has it.

My only wish is that she would have been a little more forceful the last couple of years and put her foot down when the SLs made Brooke a ruined mess. Even though I loved Deacon on the show, Breacon was practically a death-blow for the character. The one consistent thing about Brooke up until that point was her love for her children. Even Stephanie used to grudgingly admit that Brooke was a caring mother.

IMO it is the zig-zagging from Ridge to Nick and back again which is hurting Brooke now. I would love to see the Brooke we saw in Taylor's hallucination a few week's back: taunting, powerful, haughty, take-no-prisoners Brooke. That was Brooke back in the first half of B&B's run. She was a savvy businesswoman and negotiator, in spite of humble beginnings -- a worthy adversary. KKL could definitely handle that Brooke and her many contradictions.

Still, a job is a job. KKL and others know they have a good thing going at B&B. Working for a pretty good employer who values loyalty and features them front-and-center. Compared to their ABC and P&G peers, for example, they are set for life over there.

[JackPeyton]

great post.

I will admit i am not a huge KKL or Brooke fan. But i started watching around the time she slept with deacon. I have always seen her as the weak needy slefish slut. Thats all she has been for years and years, IMHO.

Then i bought tapes online of Lauren on B&B. WOW! Brooke used to be so diff. She still needed a man and all that, but she was just so.... bold, for lack of a better word. she didnt play poor me, feel for me. she did what she did and she sometimes felt bad but it didnt matter.

and i agree the nick or ridge flip flopping has really ruined her.

[Cat]

Yeah, she owned it back then, too. She was a vixen and knew it. It was a powerful instrument for her because she knew that both Stephanie and Taylor secretly feared her. But she had layers and vulnerability, too. She was alone at the top of Forrester Creations and had to watch her back. Hence her alliance with Sheila. When Brooke first appeared on the show, she was a chem major in college, star-struck by Caroline, Ridge and the Forresters. Kind of like Jill Foster on Y&R in many respects.

The writing on B&B in recent years has lost her essence, IMO. I'm not saying she needs to go back to the virginal chemist from the Valley, but we saw her evolve into a fashion strategist on Forrester Creations. She was risky and provocative and blew the cobwebs out of that fashion house. A few months ago, we had her and the Logans collaborating briefly with Eric at FC and that peaked my interest, but since then B&B has stalled again.

[JamesF]

Can't really add anything more than you've said already Cat. You've articulated my thoughts perfectly. Brooke needs to be antagonising the Forresters for reasons other than her romantic flip flopping.

God, remember the stuff with her taking over FC originally? It was electric. I just loved, loved, loved her throwing Stephanie out of her office and then rubbing it in by having Sheila assist her. It was one of the best serves I've ever seen on a soap.

Compare that to the beggy, "You really love me!" attitude towards Stephanie of a couple of years back. That scene made me nauseous.

[AmandainNC28655]

All these posts about Brooke and KKL are great and I agree with all that has been said. I also remember when Taylor returned to the show for the 2nd time and Ridge was flip flopping between Brooke and Taylor. He happened to be over at Brooke's house wanting to be there for her and I think get romantic...Brooke opened the door and told Ridge to get out. At that point, I saw the old Brooke that we knew...the one who would not take sh*t off of anyone. Part of me wishes that the show would bring back this Brooke again and let her be the independent, strong, educated, career woman she is and focus on her children and put men on the back burner for now.

[Cheap21]

They've toned her down as they've been pushing Donna as the next Brooke. Donna is so much like Brooke used to be and she's even been getting her old storylines. I still dont like Brooke and never will but she's ALOT easier to take these days. She was intolerable before

[Cat]

First of all, I love your avatar and :::WANT::: your banner!

Secondly, I get that you that Brooke ain't anywhere close to being your fave, but don't you wish she was a more dynamic presence sometimes? Bitching right back at Stephanie and getting down and dirty in the boardroom... as opposed to weeping? KKL's tear ducts must be approaching Saharan levels of dryness at this point.

JamesF pointed out a great SL which not only showcased KKL at her best but also brought a lot out of SF, HT, JMcC and even RM. Brooke taking over FC really shook the show up after Caroline died and left (IMO) a pretty big void. Brooke using a reinvigorated Sheila against Stephanie helped to take B&B to another level.

Watching Y&R yesterday, Eric showed up dealing with Jack and later Victor. It was cool seeing Eric in cautious businessman mode, something I wish we could see more of. Nothing against honey bear's viagra shenanigans and Brooke's Destiny of the Week but -- we need a change. Some variety! And the Bell soaps have often excelled at boardroom-based SLs. KKL and the rest of the cast are due one about now.

[Cheap21]

I prefer Brooke now. She was just too much before and she is at a level where I can tolerate her. Like I said before, they are writing Donna kind of like how Brooke used to be and I really couldnt handle 2 over the top Logan sisters....lol. That would be overkill for me. I also think at some point Brooke needs to mature and I think its good that she's kind of past those antics. I dont think she's so much a wimp as much as the relationship between her and Stephanie has changed. They arent fighting anymore but if and when that does happen, I do expect Brooke to be more of the bitch she's been known to be

[operagirl1]

I only started watching B&B when Heather Tom started, and I have to say that Brooke is the most selfish, passive aggressive horror I've seen on the show and I can't stand her. She ruins the show for me.

She takes Ridge away from Ashley, now she's insinuating herself into Taylor and Nick's and taking Nick and Jack away from Taylor, dumping Ridge -Well you know it's coming. She told stupidly told Stephanie that Storm shot her, and distroyed Donna's relationship with Eric.

Why is she loved? She's stupid, whiney and annoying. I'm about to stop watching, Katie or no Katie.

I don't get it.

[Ben]

ITA Cat. Nobody does boardroom better than B&B, IMO. I remember the last one they did, with Ridge Vs. Rick, and absolutely loved it. I only started watching in 1996, so I never got the chance to see Brooke gain control of FC the first time around. Never has boardroom politics been so damn enticing. I loved the way the SL incorporated the entire cast - it was totally electric.

With Brooke, I believe around the time of Deacon, and maybe before that, she became needy and weak. Brooke lost a valuable part of her character that she has yet to get back. As already been said, Brooke used to be a strong, sassy independent woman who used to fritter from guy-to-guy. She wasn't so frivolous and fickle as she is now - 3 months aren't up, and she's hopping back to an ex (i.e Ridge or Nick). She's lost her confidence, and that's a real shame. This has never been so apparent than when she went begging to Stephanie to drop the charges against Stephen, even though she held all the power, and then agreed to Steph's absurd deal.

I did enjoy seeing Brooke with Deacon and Whip, and this was mostly because it was a refreshing change seeing her along side someone who wasn't Ridge. I do think that Brad Bell needs to address Brooke's issues with men, and the fact that she clearly confuses love and sex, and allow the character to grow. The latter is imperative to the character's credibility, and above all else, would be a change.

And I think KKL should excert her power if she feels comfortable. I liked the idea of her pitching Brooke's rape SL, but clearly when doing so, she should have been very clear and insistent on the aftermath, 'cause what we got, just wasn't right.

I love Brooke for who she used to be, and who she *can* be.

[sheilaforever]

Good point. We've seen ZERO of business - not to mention corporate intrigue - since last November when Jackie reinvented Spectra Fashion and Honeybear regained Forrester Ceations.

And this is a freaking shame. It's five minutes past midnight to push Jackie's design theft and to have the Forrester kids vye for Eric's attention (who's now sole owner and seems to call the shots) and battle for stock distribution. Nobody does business like B&B. It's always a pure thriller ride with all that ctachy cliffhanger steaming moments.

[JamesF]

You've got a point about the kids vying for stock sheilaforever. If they go ahead with Eric's plans to marry Donna, it would be a perfect time for another corporate battle due to concern about Donna getting her hands on it.