Emmy-winning writer Michele Val Jean, who began her soap career on the groundbreaking NBC drama Generations, has left the The Bold and the Beautiful writing team after a dozen years.
While Val Jean did not make a formal announcement about her departure; super fan Matt Hanvey posted about it on X (formerly known as Twitter), claiming he read the news on Instagram. That's when Val Jean chimed in and confirmed the news, saying: "Thanks, Matt. It's been a wild ride."
I just read on IG that @MicheleValJean is leaving #BoldandBeautiful 😭
ó Matt Hanvey (@MattHanvey) February 21, 2024
It seems like yesterday when you came on board, but that was so long ago now.
Thanks for all the years of scripts! Can't wait to see what you do next!
Val Jean's television writing career didn't start with soaps. She worked on the primetime series Jake and the Fatman in the 1980s before making the move to daytime. Her credits include the aforementioned Generations, as well as Santa Barbara. After Santa Barbara ended, Val Jean made her way to General Hospital in 1993, where she started as a script writer. In 2000, when Val Jean was named head writer of General Hospital, it marked the first time in history that a daytime drama series had an African American head writer.
During her impressive run with General Hospital, Val Jean earned four Daytime Emmys -- in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2009. She received six additional Emmy nominations.
In 2012, Val Jean jumped to The Bold and the Beautiful, where she picked up an additional three Daytime Emmy awards.
As soon as Val Jean confirmed her B&B exit, GH fans asked the writer whether she'd be returning to the ABC soap. After all, newly hired GH co-head writer Patrick Mulcahey worked with Val Jean on both Santa Barbara and The Bold and the Beautiful. Val Jean has yet to comment publicly on her future plans.
It only seems logical that Val Jean might rejoin the GH writing team, as she will always be remembered as the person who wrote the classic "Clink-Boom" episode in which Brenda clinked champagne glasses with Jax after they married just as Sonny watched a car blow up with his pregnant wife Lily inside. Val Jean also served as inspiration for the character of Sydney Val Jean, played occasionally by Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson. The character is named after Val Jean's father, Sidney.
While Val Jean has yet to say anything about her future plans, Soap Central will keep you informed if she does.
Additional reporting provided by Dan J Kroll.
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