B&B's Brad Bell On How The Soap Will Deal With The Departure of Ronn Moss!

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38 August 14th, 2012 B&B’s Brad Bell On How The Soap Will Deal With The Departure of Ronn Moss!

Photo Credit: CBS

As the drama had been unfolding backstage at The Bold and the Beautiful with the sudden departure of one of its legacy stars, Ronn Moss (Ridge Forrester), TV Guide got an exclusive chat with the executive producer and head writer of B&B, Brad Bell to find out: if Moss’s exit was sudden, what he plans to do with the character of Ridge now, what happened in the contract negotiations, and if Ronn was frustrated that most of the airtime over the past year has been devoted to Liam Cooper (Scott Clifton). The interview also reports that Ronn Moss final airdate will be Friday, September 14th.

Here are a few excerpts below!

Bell on if he had any clue that Ronn Moss might quit the series: “Well, I did have a plan in place because when it’s contract time you have to be prepared. It’s always possible things won’t work out but I did not think Ronn’s departure was probable. There was a point in the negotiations where I was not hearing back from him, so just in case I went ahead and wrote a wedding for Ridge and Brooke — a real retrospective sort of wedding that honors the characters’ 25-year relationship — and then I have them take off on a honeymoon. I’ve been in this business long enough to know I have to protect my show. The worst thing happened but at least I was prepared.

Bell on if Liam and the younger set taking front and center stage had had anything to do with Ronn’s decision to leave: “You’d have to ask Ronn about his feelings about the Liam-Steffy-Hope story. Liam has become the front-and-center male on B&B, a spot long held by Ridge. Was that a frustration for Ronn? I don’t really know. I do know that it’s my job to keep B&B going forward. It’s my job to use this situation to enhance Brooke and Taylor and Bill, and especially Rick who is going to make his move on Ridge’s company. The show must go on and I’m psyched — not because Ronn is going away but psyched because of how the fall of 2012 is now looking for B&B. “

Photo Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

Bell on what went down during contract talks with Moss and if because of budget cuts more actors could be leaving: “I will just say that I’m very proud of the offer we made to Ronn, especially in this day and age of daytime television and what’s going on in our industry. Well, Ronn has an announcement to make and that will be interesting for everyone, including me. I don’t know what he has in mind. I think Ronn’s circumstances are unique. What happened here will not be widespread.”

Bell on what he plans to do with the character of Ridge: “Ridge will not be dead or presumed dead. He will just not be in the picture. I don’t want to do a presumed death because I don’t want the story that follows to be all about Ridge. This will be a Brooke story. Ridge is a pivotal part of the show and he will be back in a matter of time…and probably not all that much time. I will continue writing for the character. I’m looking at this in two phases, really. There will be a period of time without Ridge, which is where some new, interesting avenues for Brooke will come into play. But at some point it will be necessary for Ridge to return to the show. Who will be playing the role at that point remains to be seen.”

So soapers, what do you think of Bell’s statements in what went down involving Ronn Moss leaving B&B? What do you think of his plans to deal with the character of Ridge? Let us know your thoughts!

Tags: brad bell, Ridge Forrester, ronn moss, The Bold and the Beautiful