On the Industry
Spotlight On Rick Hearst
By Tommy Garrett
Jul 19, 2009 - 7:38:51 PM

BEVERLY HILLS—Rick Hearst may have left the building over at ABC Studios on Prospect Avenue, but he’s arrived at the CBS Television City building on Beverly Boulevard just in time. At least the handsome actor stayed in Hollywood instead of returning to New York City to his role of Alan Michael Spaulding, which he played from 1990 until 1996. He most recently portrayed Ric Lansing the intelligent and dangerous brother of Sonny Corinthos on ABC’s “General Hospital.”

Rick Hearst Courtesy: Bell Phillip TV Prod.

But returning to Whipple “Whip” Jones is where Hearst belongs. Whip was last seen in Los Angeles in 2002 when he helped save Brooke Logan from herself. Brooke had become pregnant by her son in law Deacon Sharpe, who is now a character on “Y&R,” “B&B’s” sister soap and is still being played by Sean Kanan. Brooke simply can’t help herself whenever she falls in love. Daughter Bridget now played by the beautiful Ashley Jones has lost two husbands to her sexy mother Brooke. But Whip never was given a real chance to prove to Brooke that he was in fact a better man for her.

Rick Hearst Courtesy: Bell Phillip TV Prod.

Insert Queen Stephanie into this picture. He’s probably now going to have an opportunity with daytime’s sexiest woman on the planet, Brooke Logan. Whip isn’t a villain but he also has shown that he can compromise his integrity if it is beneficial for him or his career as a PR guy. This is the type of guy “B&B” needs right now. Ridge is always torn between Brooke and Taylor, Eric is on again off again with Stephanie and Donna, Bill Spencer is a dangerous rogue, Thorne is a standup guy, Nick is taken for the moment, so in comes the handsome Whip Jones. Again, Bradley Bell has perfect timing and he knows that the chemistry Hearst shared previously with Katherine Kelly Lang is genuine and ripe for exploiting.

Whip has a new gig, this time at Jackie M Designs. The only person he recognizes at the new company is the meddling, mean Stephanie Forrester who batted him around a bit several years ago at Forrester Creations.  Scenes between Hearst and Flannery crackled on Friday and we can expect much more.  Stephanie's on a mission and its not only to have Whip Jones ramp up publicity for Jackie M Designs.  She's probably got the guy pegged as the new Mr. Brooke Logan as well.

Hearst who has won three daytime Emmys is one of the best performers in the business. Returning to “B&B” is probably a wise choice. With daytime firings right and left, “B&B” is set comfortably in the number two spot nationally and worldwide is still growing as the most watched show on the planet.

Fans of the series love Katherine Kelly Lang, who plays Brooke, but they are desperate to see her reach outside of the Forrester gene pool and Jones sounds like a good solid upstanding name for Brooke. With Hearst in the driver’s seat, we are sure for a fun ride this time around. Brad Bell most especially has some surprises awaiting all of us and he has in Hearst a very good actor, solid and consistent performer and did I say he’s also very handsome.

Hearst returned to “B&B” on Friday’s episode.