Maria Arena Bell
Encyclopedia
Maria Arena Bell is an American novelist, television and freelance writer. She is currently the Head Writer
and Executive Producer
of CBS Daytime
's The Young and the Restless
.
and Lee Phillip Bell
. They have two children, Liam and Sabrina. Her brother and sister in law are Bradley Bell
and Lauralee Bell
.
Yet after six months critics and fans alike became disheartened by Bell's departure from character-driven stories in favor of plot-driven ones which garnered her comparisons to the late James E. Reilly
(Passions
creator/head writer and former head writer of Days of our Lives
) whom was known for writing outlandish plots.
Bell was also heavily criticized for her lack of creativity due to her tendency to recycle famous plots from Bill Bell's tenure and co-opting plots from various films (especially Alfred Hitchcock
).
Another source of contention has been Bell's casting choices. Critics and fans were dissatisfied with the recasting of one of "Y&R's" most popular characters and a daytime sex symbol Malcolm (formerly played by Shemar Moore
) with former Family Matters actor Darius McCrary
, as well as Eden Riegel
's turn as Heather Stevens (Williams)
.
She has been further criticized for casting big name stars from other soaps, like Genie Francis
(Laura Spencer
from General Hospital
), Stephen Nichols
(Patch Johnson
from Days of our Lives
), Tristan Rogers
(obert Scorpio from General Hospital
) and Debbi Morgan
(Angie Hubbard from All My Children
), with an inability to produce material that is on-par with their talents.
(credited as Maria Arena)
The Young and the Restless
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
and Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
's The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
.
Personal
Arena Bell is married to Bill Bell Jr., the eldest son of Y&R creators William J. BellWilliam J. Bell
William J. Bell was the creator and executive producer of the soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.-Personal life:...
and Lee Phillip Bell
Lee Phillip Bell
Lee Phillip Bell is a former talk show host and soap opera creator.Lee Phillip Bell is one of the most notable graduates from what is now known as Riverside-Brookfield High School in Riverside, Illinois. Ms. Bell received a degree in microbiology from Northwestern University...
. They have two children, Liam and Sabrina. Her brother and sister in law are Bradley Bell
Bradley Bell
Bradley Bell is an American television writer and producer. Bell is a six-time Daytime Emmy Award winner and is executive producer and head writer for The Bold and the Beautiful, an American soap opera.-Career:...
and Lauralee Bell
Lauralee Bell
Lauralee Kristen Bell is an American soap opera actress. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended The Latin School of Chicago.The daughter of soap opera creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, and sister to Bill Bell, Jr...
.
Criticism
Bell was credited for rejuvenating The Young and the Restless after former head writer and executive producer Lynn Maria Latham was panned by critics for her detour from traditional storytelling and writing characters to suit her storylines.Yet after six months critics and fans alike became disheartened by Bell's departure from character-driven stories in favor of plot-driven ones which garnered her comparisons to the late James E. Reilly
James E. Reilly
James E. Reilly was an American soap opera writer. Known for his work as the head writer of NBC's Days of our Lives and creator/head writer of Passions, Reilly won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing as co-head writer for Guiding Light in 1993.Reilly died suddenly in October...
(Passions
Passions
Passions is an American television soap opera which aired on NBC from July 5, 1999 to September 7, 2007 and on The 101 Network from September 17, 2007 to August 7, 2008....
creator/head writer and former head writer of Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
) whom was known for writing outlandish plots.
Bell was also heavily criticized for her lack of creativity due to her tendency to recycle famous plots from Bill Bell's tenure and co-opting plots from various films (especially Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
).
Another source of contention has been Bell's casting choices. Critics and fans were dissatisfied with the recasting of one of "Y&R's" most popular characters and a daytime sex symbol Malcolm (formerly played by Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore
Shemar Franklin Moore is an American actor and former male fashion model. His most notable roles are that of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005, Derek Morgan on CBS's Criminal Minds, and as the third permanent host of Soul Train from 1999 to 2003.-Early life:Moore was...
) with former Family Matters actor Darius McCrary
Darius McCrary
Darius Creston McCrary is an American film and television actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Eddie Winslow on the ABC/CBS television sitcom Family Matters...
, as well as Eden Riegel
Eden Riegel
Eden Sonja Jane Riegel is an American actress. She portrayed Bianca Montgomery on the daytime drama All My Children, and propelled the character into a gay icon, as well as a popular figure within the medium...
's turn as Heather Stevens (Williams)
Heather Stevens
Heather Stevens is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. She was born onscreen in 1979 as the daughter of Paul Williams and April Stevens....
.
She has been further criticized for casting big name stars from other soaps, like Genie Francis
Genie Francis
Eugenie "Genie" Francis Frakes is an American actress known for her portrayal of Laura Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. She is currently playing Genevieve Atkinson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless...
(Laura Spencer
Laura Spencer
Laura Spencer is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Laura was portrayed by Stacy Baldwin from 1974 to 1976, and since then has been played by Genie Francis, first from 1976–1982, and then from 1992–2002...
from General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
), Stephen Nichols
Stephen Nichols
Stephen Nichols is an American actor, most notable for his roles on American daytime soap operas. He played the part of Steve Johnson on NBCs Days of our Lives from 1985-1990; after that, he had a stint on ABC's General Hospital as Stefan Cassadine from 1996-2003...
(Patch Johnson
Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson may refer to:* Steve Johnson , wide receiver playing for the Buffalo Bills* Steve Johnson , Australian Football League player* Steve Johnson , baseball player...
from Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
), Tristan Rogers
Tristan Rogers
Tristan Rogers is an Australian–American actor. He is best known for playing Robert Scorpio on the ABC soap opera General Hospital...
(obert Scorpio from General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
) and Debbi Morgan
Debbi Morgan
Deborah "Debbi" Morgan is an American film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children, and for her role as The Seer in the fourth and fifth seasons of Charmed.Morgan joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as...
(Angie Hubbard from All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
), with an inability to produce material that is on-par with their talents.
Awards/Nominations
The Young and the Restless writing team won the WGA Award for Best Daytime Serial in February of 2010.Positions held
The Bold and the BeautifulThe Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987....
(credited as Maria Arena)
- Script Writer (1989–1992)
- Fashion ConsultantCreative consultantCreative consultant is a credit that has - particularly in the past - been given to screenwriters who have “doctored” a movie screenplay. It is often given by producers in lieu of official credit. Those given this credit in the television field work closely with an Executive Producer, Head...
(1989)
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
- Script Writer 1990-92
- Co-Head Writer: December 26, 2007 - April 21, 2008 (chose Financial Core Status during the WGAWGAWGA is a three-letter abbreviation for:* Writers Guild of America, an American union** Writers Guild of America, East** Writers Guild of America, West* Web Gallery of Art* Western Golf Association...
strike) - Head Writer: April 22, 2008–Present (with Hogan ShefferHogan ShefferHogan Sheffer is an American Daytime Emmy-winning screenwriter. During the WGA strike, he chose financial core status with the WGA and continued working.-Personal life:...
: 7/15/08-Present) (with Scott HamnerScott HamnerScott Hamner, son of Earl Hamner, is an American television writer. He was nominated for a WGA Award in 2006 for his work on CBSThe Young and the Restless.-Positions held:The Young and the Restless*Story Consultant: July 2006 - September 2006...
: 8/11/08-present) - Co-Executive Producer (with Paul RauchPaul Rauch- Another World :Rauch is best known for his work on Another World, which he produced from 1971 to 1984. For much of that time, he worked in conjunction with Head Writer Harding Lemay, and the team garnered the show critical acclaim and strong ratings....
: October 3, 2008–January 2011) - Executive Producer January 2011-present
- Producing teamTelevision producerThe primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
: Maria Arena BellMaria Arena BellMaria Arena Bell is an American novelist, television and freelance writer. She is currently the Head Writer and Executive Producer of CBS Daytime's The Young and the Restless.-Personal:...
(Executive ProducerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
), Paul RauchPaul Rauch- Another World :Rauch is best known for his work on Another World, which he produced from 1971 to 1984. For much of that time, he worked in conjunction with Head Writer Harding Lemay, and the team garnered the show critical acclaim and strong ratings....
(Co-Executive ProducerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
), John FisherJohn FisherSaint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
(Supervising Producer), Anthony MorinaAnthony MorinaAnthony Morina is an American television soap opera director and producer. He is also sometimes credited as Tony Morina. He is married to Sally Sussman Morina.-Positions held:"The "Director"The Clinic"DirectorSpyder Games*Producer/Director...
(Supervising Producer), Josh O'Connell (Associate Producer), Matthew J. Olson (Associate Producer) - Directors She HiredTelevision directorA television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
: Mike DenneyMike DenneyMike Denney is an American television soap opera director. Denney has worked on the CBS Daytime drama The Young and the Restless for nearly 20 years, but in 2007, he quit the show. In January 2008, he joined the directing team of Days of our Lives, but left after the firing of then Co-Executive...
, Peter BrinckerhoffPeter BrinckerhoffPeter Brinckerhoff is an American television soap opera director.-Positions held:Another World* Director As the World Turns* Director Capitol* Director Passions* Director Santa Barbara...
, James Sayegh, Grant A. JohnsonGrant A. JohnsonGrant A. Johnson is an American television soap opera director.-Positions held:Days of our Lives* Occasional Director General Hospital* Director Passions* Director...
, Casey ChildsCasey ChildsCasey Childs is the Founder and Executive Producer of Primary Stages Company, a New York State non-profit, off-Broadway theatre company in New York City...
, Conal O'BrienConal O'BrienConal O'Brien is an American television soap opera director. He has worked in daytime television for nearly 23 years.His father, Vince O'Brien, appeared in several soap operas, in addition to roles in Annie Hall and as the Shell Answer Man.-Positions held:All My Children* Director * Fight Director...
, Habib AzarHabib AzarHabib Azar is an American film, theater and television director.-Career:He began his television directing career at the daytime soap opera As the World Turns after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University at the age of 22.In 2007, Habib Azar won an Emmy Award for directing As the World... - Writers She HiredHead writerA head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
: Marla KanelosMarla Kanelos-Positions held:All My Children* Script Writer: March 8, 2005 - January 2, 2008* Occasional Script Writer: 2004, 2005* Breakdown Writer: June 4, 2004 - October 8, 2004Days of our Lives* Writers' Assistant: 1990sGeneral Hospital...
, Beth MilsteinBeth Milstein-Positions held:The Young and the Restless *Script Writer: May 14, 2008–present*Script Editor: July 11, 2008–presentDays of our Lives*Head Writer: August 10, 2006 - October 4, 2006*Co-Head Writer: January 31, 1992 - June 12, 1992...
, Jay Gibson, Amanda L. Beall, Janice Ferri EsserJanice Ferri EsserJanice Ferri Esser is an American writer on the daytime television serials The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.-Positions held:The Young and the Restless...
, Tom CasielloTom CasielloTom Casiello is an American soap opera writer. In a recent interview he mentioned that he is grateful to have worked with his childhood idols: Kay Alden, The Cullitons, Stephen Demorest, Richard Backus, Leah Laiman, Jean Passanante, Shelly Altman and Janet Iacobuzio.-Positions held:As the World...
, Lisa ConnorLisa ConnorLisa Connor is an American soap opera writer, producer, and director. She is currently a writer on the ABC Daytime drama, All My Children.-Positions held:All My Children*Script Writer: March 2010 – present...
, Anne SchoettleAnne SchoettleAnne Schoettle is an American television soap opera writer.-Positions held:The Bold and the Beautiful* Script Writer: 2002 - 2003 Days of our Lives* Production Assistant: 1982...
, Susan Dansby, Greg Ball (G.A nomineeGemini AwardThe Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
; credits: BonesBones (TV series)Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
, NYPD BlueNYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, Z.B.: W.C., and The AssociatesThe AssociatesThe Associates may refer to:*Associates, a 1980s Scottish band.*The Associates , a 2001-2002 Canadian TV series about young lawyers in Toronto, Canada....
)