 On the Industry
BEVERLY HILLS—What a week for superstar Lauralee Bell. The beautiful actress who costars with Aaron Lustig and Phyllis Diller in “Family Dinner” enjoyed an amazing debut of her first webisode on: familydinneronline.com or funnyordie.com. But for those who thought the beautiful young actress, producer wouldn’t depart from the class and elegance her parents Bill Bell, Sr. and Lee Phillip Bell made a staple in Television with hit shows like “The Young & the Restless” and “The Bold & the Beautiful” were pleasantly and forever surprised. Lauralee Bell is proof the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. “Family Dinner” is a real hit!
Bell was wickedly funny with her on screen family. “One of my friends said after seeing the trailer, Lauralee, you play white trash well.” Said Lauralee Bell. That friend is right. Bell who is far from trash, comes from one of the most distinguished families in the nation. She’s part of the Bell Entertainment Dynasty. But she sure is playing something quite different than we’ve ever seen her play before. From heroine Christine Blair Williams on her family’s hit show, “The Young & the Restless” to tough girl Kim Rivers on “Walker Texas Ranger,” Bell can never hide her talent as a phenomenal actress. From "CSI: Miami" to the Lifetime hit movie “Past Sins,” Bell reaches deep inside to find the skills as an actress to give every role she plays her best.
“Family Dinner” was her best. The young actors who play her three kids are amazing as well. They were hilarious, rude and obnoxious. All the things Bell’s own two kids are not. The webisode was so popular that some had to wait a while to view the show because there were so many others logged on to the site. Bell’s talented husband Scott Martin has an eye for sets. One of the most respected photographers in Hollywood was called in to help his wife create the right shots for the scenes and he came through for her and the viewers. He managed to make the most out of one set in a way that only Orson Welles and the late Bill Bell, Sr. knew how to do. Both legends would be honored to be in Scott Martin’s league. Bell managed to tap the earthiness of Roseanne Barr and the beauty of Lauralee Bell to create a character that we haven’t seen ever on Television. Lauralee Bell could have gone to the comfy spot of her family’s skills and created a soap for the Internet. But she broke away from the family’s legacy and dynasty and found her niche in an area few of us knew Bell had inside herself. She’s broken the Bell mold and her late father Bill Bell, Sr. is laughing from heaven in great pride and admiration for his daughter’s skills as a writer and producer as well as an actress. Emmy nominee Aaron Lustig manages to round out the cast and offer a grounding source that this trailer trash family needs. Phyllis Diller is deliciously funny and raunchy in her role of the meddling mother-in-law who simply can’t control what she says. Golden Girl meets modern Norma Desmond. That’s the best description for the two leading ladies on this series. Somehow I suspect Bell’s words, “My chance of being on Oprah is over now,” don’t ring true. Oprah only needs to see this show. You are ready for your close-up, Ms. Desmond or should I say Ms. Bell? Lauralee Bell’s first words in character explains it all. “This is by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to this family!” A Bell family member has proved that she can do her own thing outside of the box and do it with humor and style. This series may have taken off and become an Internet sensation, but it’s only a matter of time before this sitcom style show comes to Television. At least one critic hopes so. Lauralee, nobody messed it up! Webisode two airs on Wednesday, June 17. © Copyright 2007 by canyon-news.com |
