On Sunday,The Young and the Restlesswill officially celebrate 50 years on CBS.
Bell, who created the No.
1 daytimedramawith his wife, Lee, in 1973.
Lauralee Bell as Christine Williams in ‘The Young and the Restless’
Were representing dad in such big way, said Bell of her father, who died in 2005.
Her mom passed in 2020.
LAURALEE BELLWe were in Chicago.
We stayed in Chicago because my mom had a local talk show.
She was the famous one in the family.
She would go off and do her show and my dad would just be typing away.
[Her father began his writing career onGuiding Lightand then moved toAs The World Turnsbefore creatingY&R].
I was fascinated by it and would pretend to be sick so I could stay home from school.
Dad would go on the phone immediately to Ed Scott or whoever was producing at the time.
I thought was the most fascinating thing I had ever heard.
He would say,okay, in this scene it was right on.
But this scene, gosh, I wish she wouldve given it to him more.
I got almost addicted to that, so I literally pretended to be sick for almost a month.
Like, my parents took me to a psychiatrist.
I was a little dramatic, I guess.
I just found this so fascinating, so much more exciting than recess and science.
It was the Thursday ratings that re-energized him every week.
When we reached a 40 share, Ill never forget that day.
He was just beaming.
Every week to get those ratings was like, okay, here I go again.
He was a really energetic, happy guy.
Or was it always assumed you would?
BELLHe came to me.
I said, oh my gosh, that was so easy.
And [her dad] was like, okay, youre too young.
You didnt get the point of what that exercise was.
So he waited a couple years and then he put me on for two days.
Jabot Cosmetics had a junior line that Ashley was starting and I would be the teen model.
It was not one of my proudest moments.
I mean, I had so much fun, but looking back at those tapes, it was brutal.
I was from Chicago, and I couldnt saymodel.
So I did the best I could.
I learned as the summers went on.
Thank you, audience, for being very patient.
And my dad said, maybe we can figure out a way to do this for two more.
Then I just really got lucky because fans were writing in, saying this was so exciting.
DEADLINE I have to imagine youve been thinking about your dad a lot this month.
BELLMy father always had a red pen.
He would edit with a red pen.
And then Id open it and hed be like, youre is not Y-O-U-R in red.
After the 50th anniversary show, Tricia Cast was staying with me.
I have no idea where this pen came from.
I wasnt like, oh my God, oh my God, theres a red pen.
It just felt normal.
It just felt like,okay, maybe that was him.
I didnt freak out about it, but that was crazy.
Or did he ever take it to another extreme?
Did he subtly push us, knowing that if he pushed too hard, we might rebel?
Because of his dementia [at the end of his life], he would come in and out.
DEADLINE Did you ever have conversations with him about how long this genre could last?
He wouldnt have seen an end.
DEADLINE Do your kids have any interest in the genre?
Do you worry that you may be the end of the line?
BELLWatching my father was the best lesson I could have ever had.
There are people who really struggle to try and take over for him.
That was everything to me.
I dont know that I could pass that on to my kids.
I could try, but the piece of the puzzle theyre missing out on is observing my father.
So I have to just really eat well and lift weights and attempt to last.
DEADLINE Are you feeling bullish about the future ofThe Young and the Restless?
BELLI cant even let my brain go there.
One day it will come to an end.
Im thrilled that we are at 50.
That is a huge accomplishment to celebrate.
I guess Im like my dad.
So I have a pile of show concepts if Y&R ends.
It would just be like,okay, whats next?
But I hope that wont happen soon.
Thats just too much.
I just want 10!
