I have been very consistent in watching The Bold & the Beautiful since its debut in 1987. If I missed story lines, it was because I was in school as a child; however, I was able to watch a lot of the show even when I was in school. My mother was also a faithful soap watcher, and she recorded the CBS soap operas, which my brothers and I watched with her sometimes. For many years, The Bold & the Beautiful has been my favorite soap opera after surpassing my love of The Young & the Restless in the mid 90s. I always loved The Bold & the Beautiful because of its difference from other soaps. The fashion and glamor of the show was something that appealed to me along with lovable characters, acting, and story lines. While I fell in and out of love with other soaps, I never fell in and out of love with The Bold & the Beautiful until recently.

I think I can speak for all soap fans when I say we understand that no show can maintain story lines that you love forever. We look at “jump the shark” moments on soaps and try to get past them (if they aren’t too absurd). We wait patiently for our favorite disbanded couples to reunite. As soap fans, we suffer through angst, joy, pain, frustration, and many shenanigans because we love a show. However, I reached a level where I just could not take any more of the ridiculousness that The Bold & the Beautiful became in spring 2008.

For the first time since 1987, I put down my favorite soap opera and vowed that I would not return for at least 6 months-1 year until things improved. I stuck to my vow and returned to the show December 2008, but I have been experiencing a light bulb (off and on) relationship with the show. I have a laundry list of items that makes me quit The Bold & the Beautiful for weeks (or months) at a time, and I am going to lay them out on the table for everyone to see. (more…)