If you just sat down with your coffee, flipped on CBS, and found yourself staring at something that definitely wasn't a Forrester creation, you aren't alone. It's frustrating. You've been waiting all morning to see if Deacon and Taylor finally cross that line, or if Sheila is about to go full "psycho-mode" again. But instead? Nothing. Or at least, nothing new.
The truth is, seeing bold and beautiful no new episode on your DVR or TV guide usually comes down to a few very specific, very annoying reasons.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you're looking for a fresh episode right now, there's a pretty simple explanation. The Bold and the Beautiful doesn't air new episodes on weekends. Never has. It’s a Monday-through-Friday gig. But I know that’s not why most of you are here. Usually, people search this when a weekday episode gets yanked or the schedule gets weird.
Why Your Soap Is Missing (And When It’s Coming Back)
The most common reason for a missing episode is a preemption. CBS loves its sports and its breaking news. Sometimes, those things eat into the 1:30 PM ET slot.
The Sports Factor
If it's March, it’s March Madness. If it's late in the year, it might be football. In early 2026, we’ve already seen specific preemptions for things like UEFA Champions League coverage. These soccer matches often hit the West Coast harder because of the time difference. While the East Coast might see the show as scheduled, fans in Los Angeles or Seattle might get an encore episode or a news block instead.
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Breaking News Disruptions
We’ve seen this happen a lot lately. Remember the national preemptions back in June 2025 due to the missile strikes in Qatar? When major world events happen, the network pulls the plug on the Forresters and Logans to go to the news desk. It's jarring, sure, but it’s standard procedure.
When this happens, the network usually "slides" the episodes. That means the episode you missed today will simply air tomorrow. You won't actually miss any of the plot; the whole timeline just shifts by twenty-four hours.
What’s Actually Happening in the Plot Right Now?
If you're caught up to Friday, January 16, 2026, you know things are getting messy. Like, really messy.
- Deacon and Taylor: They are currently the biggest "will-they-won't-they" on the screen. They’ve been fighting their feelings for weeks, but the tension is reaching a breaking point.
- The Sheila Factor: Everyone is terrified of what happens when Sheila finds out about Deacon. We all know Sheila doesn't do "rejection" well.
- The Next Generation: Will and R.J. are finally coming face-to-face. It’s been years. The tension there is thick enough to cut with a pair of Forrester fabric shears.
Honestly, the show is in a bit of a creative peak right now. Integrating the younger cast like Electra and Dylan has breathed some new life into the old "Brooke vs. Taylor" cycle that, let's be real, was getting a little stale.
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How to Watch If You Missed It
If there truly was bold and beautiful no new episode on your local affiliate but others are talking about it online, you might have a localized preemption. This happens for local news or regional weather emergencies.
Don't panic.
- Check Paramount+: Usually, the new episode drops there by mid-afternoon.
- CBS.com: You can often stream the latest episode for free (with ads) a few hours after it airs.
- YouTube Recaps: If you're short on time, channels like TrendStreet or Soap Central do a great job of breaking down the "must-watch" moments so you don't have to sit through the flashbacks.
What to Expect Next Week (January 19-23)
Since today is Sunday, we're looking ahead to a massive week starting tomorrow, Monday, January 19. According to the latest spoilers, Monday’s episode (#9696) is going to be a big one for Will. He’s worried about Katie’s decision-making and how it’s going to affect his standing at Forrester.
The real fireworks, though? Wednesday. That’s when Steffy supposedly begs Taylor to stop seeing Deacon as a patient. We all know how well Taylor listens to her kids when her heart is involved. Expect some major "no-turning-back" moments by the time Friday’s episode (Episode #9700) rolls around.
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Moving Forward with Your Viewing
To stay ahead of the schedule, keep an eye on the official CBS social media accounts. They are usually pretty good about announcing "special reports" or sports preemptions about 24 hours in advance. If you see "Encore Episode" on your guide, it’s a safe bet that a news event or a holiday has pushed the schedule back.
Make sure your DVR is set to "New Episodes Only" to avoid recording the 35th-anniversary repeats that CBS sometimes airs during these gaps. If you're a die-hard fan, checking the West Coast schedule vs. the East Coast can also give you a heads-up on whether a "missing" episode is a national issue or just a local glitch.
To stay up to date on the latest schedule shifts, you should check your local CBS affiliate's "Daily Programming" page every Monday morning. If a preemption is planned for a sporting event like March Madness or a holiday, it will be listed there well before the 1:30 PM airtime. For unexpected news breaks, keep the Paramount+ app ready, as the digital upload schedule often remains consistent even when the broadcast signal is interrupted.