“The Bold and the Beautiful” Explores an Especially Timely Issue

amp8220BampampBamp8221 is written and produced weeks or sometimes months in advance so it isnamp8217t too far off the mark to assume that this story was conceived and taped some time ago likely before Jenneramp8217s primetime interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC which took this very intimate development in the life of the Olympian and reality television personality from the tabloids and gossip sites and propelled it into the national conversation in a dignified straightforward manner Those of us who remember watching when Jenner at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games famously won the gold medal in the decathlon setting a new world record at the time could only experience a quiet fascination at his revelations during his interview with Sawyer And when it was over as is often the case when people especially celebrities put into the spotlight private matters that had prompted much speculation and salacious tabloid quasicoverage there was only support and respect for the bravery of this person not only in accepting her true identity but in sharing her struggle with the worldConcurrent with Jenneramp8217s reallife situation has been that of a fictional character named Maya Avant on amp8220BampampBamp8221 In recent weeks viewers have learned that Maya played to pinpoint perfection by Karla Mosley was born Myron and transgendered into the beautiful woman she is today Her powerful conversations with her sister Nicole about the person she has always been and has finally embraced were beautifully written Maya is something of a supermodel having become the face of Forrester Creations the fashion house that is the setting for much of the romance and melodrama on this longrunning soap Even more Maya has captured the heart of Forresteramp8217s often ruthless CEO the dashing and manipulative Rick Forrester Jacob Young pictured below with Mosley but has never revealed to him this information about her past Rick is deeply in love with Maya who now lives with himRickamp8217s life like that of most characters on this show and all soaps has been filled with heartache heartbreak and general perpetual misery So it meant a lot in a recent episode when his father Forrester Creations cofounder Eric John McCook declared with dismay upon learning Mayaamp8217s secret amp8220Rickamp8217s finally happy in his lifeamp8221As is true when a dreaded secret comes out on soaps the person who is certain to be the most shaken by it is the last to know Maya for years kept hidden the truth about her former identity amp8220I wish we lived in a world where it didnamp8217t matteramp8221 she wistfully told her sister amp8220I may lose Rick but I wonamp8217t lose my selfrespect as long as he hears the story of me from meamp8221 Now it is suddenly spreading like wildfire and it seems that everybody but Rick knows amp8211 including Rickamp8217s combustible and combative mother Brooke Logan Katherine Kelly LangThis is the tricky part Once upon a time the exposure of a amp8220secretamp8221 like this one would have been the stuff of high melodrama on a soap opera but that doesnamp8217t feel accurate at the moment Thatamp8217s not to suggest that members of the transgender community or those who are coming to terms with their true gender or those who are questioning or those who have chosen to become the person they know themselves to be suddenly have it easy just because Jenner has made his own situation public But it certainly helped to put the issue in a bright new light and so for amp8220BampampBamp8221 to treat it now the way it might have been handled in the past could make the show look bad or as if it is on the wrong side of history to use a currently popular expression The writers also had to keep in mind the great critical acclaim and increasing popularity enjoyed by Amazonamp8217s smart scripted comedydrama amp8220Transparentamp8221 the first season of which has been available since September 2014Maybe there is nothing to be concerned about After all amp8220BampampBamp8221 has in recent years distinguished itself with its uncommonly respectful and insightful handling of contemporary issues especially the shameful crisis of homelessness that continues to grow in this country the horror of spousal and child abuse and the challenges people endure when diagnosed with terminal cancer amp8220BampampBamp8221 has even taken on the overpopulation of cats and dogs in a sensitive and informative manner Throughout it has accomplished the seemingly impossible plunging headlong into the heart of these weighty issues while making the stories built around them entertaining and enlighteningBut in this situation a reallife story is playing out on television on Eamp8217s amp8220Keeping Up with the Kardashiansamp8221 and that networkamp8217s upcoming observational reality series about Jenneramp8217s transition even as a scripted series that exists to generate exaggerated high drama explores the same territory amp8220BampampBamp8221 in the weeks ahead will be fascinating to watchThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Media Village management or associated bloggersamp160amp160

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“The Bold and the Beautiful” Explores an Especially Timely Issue

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Ed Martin

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

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“The Bold and the Beautiful” Explores an Especially Timely Issue

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