HOLLYWOOD—This week’s Leading Men Gold Standard goes to three handsome actors who show us the best leading male performances on a regular basis. Don Diamont, who portrays billionaire mogul Bill Spencer on “The Bold and the Beautiful”; Scott Clifton, who portrays Bill’s son Liam Cooper on “B&B”; and Adam Gregory, who portrays Thomas Forrester also on “B&B,” all showed their leading man masterful performances and did not blink. Each actor has a different style, but each one also makes the female viewers swoon with attraction. We male viewers offer our admiration to three of the handsomest guys on soaps who always get the girl.
Don Diamont is no stranger to soap fans. He portrayed Brad Carlton on “B&B’s” sister soap “The Young and the Restless” for over two decades. However, Brad Bell’s decision to bring the man over to his side of William J. Bell Studios and to create the character of Bill Spencer was a magnificent decision. Bill Spencer appears on the soap as the leading publishing icon in Los Angeles’s business community. Spencer Publications competes with the L.A. Times, Canyon News and other papers in the city of Los Angeles, but one thing Spencer Publications has going for it, is the most powerful CEO Bill Spencer. What “B&B” has going for it is Diamont himself, who this week showed empathy and respect for sister-in-law Brooke Logan, then support for Brooke’s daughter Hope, also loyalty to his son Liam, but disdain for Amber Moore. Each scene with each character required something different, and watching Don transition from one mood and emotion to another so flawlessly is one of the most exciting things about watching “B&B.” Give the guy an Emmy for Best Lead Actor and call it fair and well deserved.
Clifton Scott plays Liam with heart and soul. I must admit that the initial casting had me wondering if the young actor could keep up with the most talented writer in the industry. So far he’s on home base and hasn’t had a hiccup in any scene over the past several months. When a young actor can hold his own in scenes with Susan Flannery, Don Diamont and Heather Tom, there is no stopping him. Scott is a handsome young star, who makes Liam a guy we are all rooting for on “B&B.” This week Liam was shocked to find out Amber Moore really is pregnant, he also played denial when Liam claimed the baby could not be his. Then ultimately Liam went to his father for support in getting rid of gold digging Amber. That scene was crackling between Diamont and Scott, when Bill vowed to protect his son against “the tramp” from Death Valley.
Adam Gregory plays the youngest scion in the Forrester family, who has had his right of passage. The Forrester male right of passage is to fall in love with Brooke Logan. His grandfather (Eric) fell in love with the paramour, then his father (Ridge) did, so did his uncles (Thorne) and (Nick). Brooke seduced and married all of the Forrester men, but she’s doing her best to fight against the feelings of her stepson Thomas for her. Gregory plays the scenes that could come off as creepy with a maturity that offers empathy for Thomas. The writing has been sensational and the acting on Gregory’s part has not been anything short of superb. I’d do anything to see what happens when the relationship between Brooke and Thomas finally goes too far. These three thespians make daytime exciting along with their two-time Emmy Award® winning head writer and producer Bradley P. Bell.
“B&B” airs weekdays on CBS.
Photographs are Courtesy: Don Diamont by Monty Brinton for CBS and Scott Clifton and Adam Gregory by Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip TV Productions
