Brad Bell in an interview on MSN today confirms that Zach Conroy, formerly on GL, is joining the B&B cast in the role of Oliver, the brother of Sandy/Agnes, a guy who works in the music industry, and he will be romantically linked with the newly SORASED teenage Hope, Steffy will be interested in him too. Zach's first air date is January 20.

And, when asked if he's going to hire any more ex-GL stars, Bell reveals that he's got his eye on a certain ex-GL actress, and she may be appearing on B&B soon - I wonder who?

HIDE THE CRULLERS MARGO IT'S BEARS AFOOT!

LOL.

The Commissery guys will be happy to work the extra overtime.

LOL.

The Commissery guys will be happy to work the extra overtime.

Justin Baldoni: major soap hunk material, he'll give Brandon Beemer a run for his money! However rapists don't last long on B&B, just ask the guy who played Andy a few years ago(Brooke's rapist).

Lots of hirings these days: Sarah Brown, Kimberly Matula, Zach Conroy and Justin Baldoni... Do you really think that Bradley Bell will write for everybody? I wish he would. New characters can be good for the show but he will probably write for them for two or three months then they will be written out and the same characters will remain in the background (Thorne, Felicia, Thomas, etc). I still don't understand why they put Drew Tyler Bell back on contrat...

I'm ok with it but the cast will get so over-stuffed.

They could easily trim by getting rid of Justin, Marcus and Donna, IMO...

Lots of hirings these days: Sarah Brown, Kimberly Matula, Zach Conroy and Justin Baldoni... Do you really think that Bradley Bell will write for everybody? I wish he would. New characters can be good for the show but he will probably write for them for two or three months then they will be written out and the same characters will remain in the background (Thorne, Felicia, Thomas, etc). I still don't understand why they put Drew Tyler Bell back on contrat...

Seriously...I'd say "wedding gift". I don't expect he'll stay on contract for long.

Khalil is far from perfect, but considering who was playing Lily at the time...

Sherwood showed more growth, potential and was starting to show more depth in the role than Khalil ever came to scratching the surface of (minus the 1 scene she almost had me where she went off on Daniel after Dru fell over the cliff), especially given how much time each had to tackle the role

Edited December 19, 200915 yr by classicmoment

Justin Baldoni: major soap hunk material, he'll give Brandon Beemer a run for his money! However rapists don't last long on B&B, just ask the guy who played Andy a few years ago(Brooke's rapist).

But they probably treat him different since we didn't see him rape her. They might give us flashbacks.

I'm ok with it but the cast will get so over-stuffed.

They could easily trim by getting rid of Justin, Marcus and Donna, IMO...

I love Justin. What they need to do is have him intersct with other people then staying in Donna storyline.

Sherwood showed more growth, potential and was starting to show more depth in the role than Khalil ever came to scratching the surface of (minus the 1 scene she almost had me where she went off on Daniel after Dru fell over the cliff), especially given how much time each had to tackle the role

Yes, I agree. Sherwood was a slow build, but she had started to win over many viewers. Khalil was the opposite. She started (her return) with a lot of good will, but has squandered it with talentlessness.

Since this is the B&B thread, I'd say the problem with Bell shows is the failure (mostly) to do well with the young casting. It can be done. I'd say GH, OLTL and ATWT all have had more luck with their youth casting--especially GH.

I'm vaguely encouraged that B&B is trying again with the young set. Zack Conroy impressed me (for more than his good looks) on GL...I really felt like he could emulate the progression and (ultimately) gravitas of his TV-dad, Grant Aleksander. Unfortunately, history suggests B&B will not be the place for him to hone his skills as a serious actor. We shall see...

As others here have said, the real mystery is what the rejuvenation of the young set means for all the backburnered others. Thomas and Rick are the most obvious, but so too are the perennial questions about Thorne and Felicia. Lesli Kay's time at ATWT has been extended (I guess till March)...so she's off Brad Bell's "worry list" for the time being. I wish they would just send the character out of town for now. But the Winsor Harmon neglect is criminal (and I don't even care for the actor/character). Why he isn't part of "Taylor's romance", and instead they are squandering Ric Hearst there, I'll never know.

B&B has had the worst luck with every young actress since Jennifer Finnegan/Adrienne Frantz. (I don't count Ashley Jones, because she was already a more mature Bridget). Here's hoping this Matula girl is a major talent.

Lots of hirings these days: Sarah Brown, Kimberly Matula, Zach Conroy and Justin Baldoni... Do you really think that Bradley Bell will write for everybody? I wish he would. New characters can be good for the show but he will probably write for them for two or three months then they will be written out and the same characters will remain in the background (Thorne, Felicia, Thomas, etc). I still don't understand why they put Drew Tyler Bell back on contrat...

Lesli Kay is recurring and DTB is awful, so I'm okay with them being backburnered. Winsor Harmon and Kyle Lowder, on the other hand, are shamefully neglected.

Also, Baldoni may not be on contract. Matula and Conroy's press releases state that they're on contract; Baldoni's doesn't. He may only be on for a few weeks.

But I wonder how they'll fit 23 (or 24) actors into the opening credits.

They could easily trim by getting rid of Justin, Marcus and Donna, IMO...

I agree, but it won't happen. Donna is a Logan (and a Forrester by marriage) so she's safe. And if they got rid of Justin and Marcus they'd be accused of racism.

I don't expect he'll stay on contract for long.

God, I hope so. That is one character that seriously needs to be recast - Blair Redford (ex-Scott, Y&R/ex-Miguel, Passions) would be perfect.

I'm vaguely encouraged that B&B is trying again with the young set.

Yes, I'm hoping we will have another Rick/Amber/CJ/Kimberly/Deacon/Becky type younger set (and not another Rick/Phoebe/Constantine).

Why he isn't part of "Taylor's romance", and instead they are squandering Rick Hearst there, I'll never know.

Thorne/Taylor has proven unsuccessful twice. I think the Whip/Taylor pairing has been great for both Hearst and Tylo. They both seem so much more alive now than in their last pairings (Jackie and Ridge, respectively).

B&B has had the worst luck with every young actress since Jennifer Finnigan/Adrienne Frantz.

Before JMW, I would've agreed with you. JMW is Jennifer Finnigan 2.0, IMO. The difference is, Finnigan's Bridget was consistently well written.

B&B doesn't champion themselves of being a diverse soap like other soaps. Then doesn't write for black characters or keep them in a corner somewhere where their storylines only effects them. You never hear people call B&B racist. What people don't understand, LA is a mix place where they have gays, blacks, & latins but they never showcase them. Maybe they are excuses them because they are an half hour show.

My point is they could get rid of Justin & Marcus last week & nobody would accuse B&B of being racist. We'll just would say it took them long enough. Or I knew they wasn't going to stay long. But getting rid of these two won't put a dint in their line up. They still got too many people. That's why we're predicting that these new people will be forgotten in a couple of months as well.

Edited December 20, 200915 yr by MoTheGreat

Sandy's rapist?

That`s what I thought when I read the casting call. But my mom think he`s the guy who was taking pictures of Sandy and then his friends came over, including the rapist, and a party broke out. Nick will apprehend the rapist and Sandy can be free.

I agree, but it won't happen. Donna is a Logan (and a Forrester by marriage) so she's safe. And if they got rid of Justin and Marcus they'd be accused of racism.

Whom exactly would be accusing B&B of racism if those characters were dismissed? African-Americans?

I don't mean to be overly sensitive or argumentative with that comment, but I, as an American first and African-American second, find it to be offensive. Contrary to the TOTALLY overused "playing the race card" cliche that a LOT of people seem to insist on running into the ground, I wish people would understand the following: in this day and age most African-Americans that I know of, myself included, who have experienced racism in its ugly forms DO NOT so casually yell "RACISM!" at the drop of the hat.

I seriously doubt that the NAACP would picket CBS Television City if Brad Bell dispensed with two satellite dull characters such as Marcus and Justin...perhaps if there is a civil rights group out there dedicated to rights of bland/bad actors (in the case of Texas Battle) maybe they would be up in arms. Personally, as far as the plight of African-Americans in this nation, believe it or not, there are far more serious and more pressing issues besides the pot of gloss that is B&B.

Furthermore, I would just like to state that even though there has been a TRAGIC and UNFORGIVABLE lack of true diversity on B&B in its twenty year history, I have never found the issue to be one of racism. Now if you want to truly discuss a daytime issue that many African-Americans view as very close to, if not venturing into downright racism, look no further than the various complaints/issues regarding the characters and/or actors of color across the hall at Television City at Y&R...