Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit The Bold and the Beautiful

Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan | Image: JPI
Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan | Image: JPI

The Bold and the Beautiful moved from its home in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles to the historic Sunset Las Palmas studios in Hollywood last year. Now, two actors who worked on the show in its original studio, Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan, have visited the half-hour soap in its new home. Could they possibly be making on-screen appearances?

Hello, Stephanie

According to a few social media posts, one from Casey Kasprzyk, executive producer, and Lou Trabbie, set decorator and production designer, B&B, both Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie) and Ian Buchanan (ex-James) visited the show today and can be seen riding on a golf cart, being driven around the historic studio lot.

"#SusanFlannery #IanBuchanan," posted Kasprzyk, who generated quite a few responses to his account. "NO FRICKING WAY!!!!!!!!! Omg Omg Omg This is epic! 🤴👸👑," shared Maeve Quinlan (ex-Megan).

Other actors chiming in with enthusiasm included Naomi Matsuda (Li), Ashley Jones (Bridget; also, Heather, Beyond the Gates), Don Diamont (Bill), and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless).

From the show's inception in 1987 until 2012, Flannery played the indomitable matriarch, Stephanie Douglas Forrester, who ruled her family and Forrester Creations with an iron will. Flannery's interpretation of the strong, but vulnerable Stephanie, earned her three Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

The actress left the show in 2012. Stephanie died after her cancer returned. She passed away in the arms of her longtime rival-turned-daughter-in-law and friend, Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang).

The Doctor Is Back In

Buchanan holds the distinction of being B&B's first acting Daytime Emmy winner, having taken home the gold in 1996 for his portrayal of Dr. James Warwick, Taylor's (Rebecca Budig) mentor.

Over the years, James used his psychiatric skills on numerous characters, including Kimberlin Brown's Sheila, whom James was married to at one point.

James and Taylor made love during a snowstorm after an earthquake that nearly killed them both. Years later, Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) learned of Taylor's infidelity with James, which led to their splitting up.

James last appeared on the show in 2017. Sheila used James' dependency on painkillers as blackmail so that James would lie about Sheila's condition, so that she'd get sympathy from Eric (John McCook).

Were the two actors just visiting the B&B studios -- or might they be popping up on air? Sure, Stephanie is dead, but her voice appeared on the show the last time Ridge and Brooke were married. Stephanie endearingly referred to Brooke as a slut from the valley, a term she used not so affectionately in years past!

Would you like to see James and/or Stephanie back on the air? Sound off in the comments!

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Edited by Michael Maloney