Soap Opera Digest: You've already stated that the past year was both a trying and transitional period for your show. Were there any highlights for you?
Bradley Bell: Oh, yes, when we introduced our two new families: The Marones and the Ramirezes. We're not making any big cast changes now and this will be the group to take us into the future. The focus now is back on the Forresters and these new families are complimenting what has always been the driving force of the show.

Digest: Your parents [Bill and Lee Bell] created B&B, as well as the Forresters and the Spectras. How did it feel to create your own core family, like the Marones?
Bell: It was a big investment, but I am very happy with what it gave me. The twist that Eric wasn't Ridge's father was daring. I think it added another dimension and conflict that continues to pay off as we get into the story with Thorne and Forrester Creations. I love the casting. It couldn't be better with Jack [Wagner, Nick], Joe [Mascolo, Massimo] and Lesley [Anne Down, Jackie]. They're such a talented group of actors. I love the Marones and they're now a part of the fabric of the show.

Digest: Right now, it seems like you're at a plateau with the Marones. Do you still have story for them?
Bell: I do. We reached the end of a chapter and we're really focusing on the Ramirez family. They're now part of the fabric of the show, as well. So we have more families to play, but they're all going to be important to the show.

Digest: Why did you tell Hector and Sam's story at such a quick pace?
Bell: It seemed liked they were islands and until they were tied together, there wasn't that much punch, so I tried to introduce them individually and then tie them together. That was the launching point. Once I had the family established, it was that much richer.

Digest: Didn't you originally plan on putting Eric and Caitlin together in a controversial relationship?
Bell: We had a bunch of ideas floating around for Caitlin and that was one of them, that she admired this guy and he was alone. He'd lost Stephanie and Jackie, and the two of them met creatively and maybe something scandalous would happen. That was an idea out there.

Digest: Did the flak over Ridge and Bridget make you think twice about it?
Bell: That could have been one component.