Maria Arena Bell
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Maria Arena Bell is an American novelist, television and freelance writer.
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Career
In February 2007, she was appointed to the Commission on The Status of Women by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, Aspen Peak and C Magazine.
She is the co-chair of the Board of The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The President of the Board of PS Arts, and a board member of DiCapo Opera Theater and Center Dance Arts.
During the 2007 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, she took Financial Core Status (FiCore) to become the co-Head Writer of CBS Daytime's The Young And The Restless. WGA members who have chosen to go FiCore still pay dues to the Guild but are no longer members with voting privileges. She is currently the Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer of The Young and The Restless.
Criticism
Despite earning praise early in her tenure at The Young and the Restless, the show has seen continuous rating declines since she took over. Prior to Bell's arrival, the series averaged a 4.2 household rating for the 2006-2007 season [1], declining to a 4.0 household rating for the 2007-2008 season [2]and a 3.7 household rating for the 2008-2009 season [3]. Many attribute the initial decline to an unpopular storyline which saw billionaire mogul Victor Newman instantly fall in love with Sabrina Costelana, a woman 30 years younger than him. [4]
Maria Arena Bell has been criticized by fans and critics for the large amount of deaths on the series. Hope Wilson, Brad Carlton, Colleen Carlton, Marge Cotrooke, Clint Radison and David Chow are among the characters killed off since her tenure began. Bell has also been criticized for the lack of diversity with minority characters seeing very little screentime or story development. The show has also received criticism for the more shock/plot-driven approach the series has taken in recent months. [5] [6] [7]
TV Guide cited Y&R for the two worst stories of 2009: the return of Phillip Chancellor from the dead and "Case of the Bank-robbing Chipmunk." Stating, "How did the soap we picked as the best of 2008 become the lamest of ’09?" [8] TV Guide Canada named the show "Most Disappointing" and "Most Disappointing Writing Team." [9] Soap Opera Digest cited Y&R for "Worst Return" and "Most Preposterous Plot Twist" for Deacon and Phillip's returns in it's December 15 "Best and Worst of 2009" issue. [10] In regards to the rushed storytelling, Daytime Confidential said "Whatever happened to TPTB restoring Y&R's signature brand of building up storylines slowly, rooted in character, and exploring psychological nuances? Instead of that, the soap's storytelling is now all about racing from plot point to plot point. Isn't that what tanked the previous regime?" [11]
Personal
Arena Bell is married to Bill Bell Jr., the eldest son of Y&R creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell. They have two children. Her brother and sister in law are Bradley Bell and Lauralee Bell. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1987, and is a registered Republican.
Positions held
The Bold and the Beautiful (credited as Maria Arena)
- Script Writer (1989-1992)
- Fashion Consultant (1989)
- Script Writer 1990-92
- Co-Head Writer: December 26, 2007 - April 21, 2008
- Head Writer: April 22, 2008 - Present (with Hogan Sheffer: 7/15/08-Present) (with Scott Hamner: 8/11/08-present)
- Co-Executive Producer (with Paul Rauch: October 3, 2008 - present)
HW Tenure
| Preceded by Lynn Marie Latham Scott Hamner | Head Writer of The Young And The Restless (with Josh Griffith: 12/26/07-4/21/08) {with H. Sheffer: 7/15/08-Present) (with S. Hamner: 8/11/08-present) December 26, 2007-Present | Succeeded by incumbent |