Soap Hub Performer of the Week for The Bold and the Beautiful: Tanner Novlan

Steffy’s a ways off from delivering her second baby on The Bold and the Beautiful, but it’s safe to say the show has given birth to a bona fide leading man in Tanner Novlan — as Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan took center stage.

Tanner Novlan — Performer of the Week For B&B

For showing his character’s passion and moving into true romantic lead status, Soap Hub gives Performer of the Week honors for BB to Tanner Novlan (Finn).

The good doctor hit the ground running when he debuted as Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) doctor last summer, guiding her recovery and helping her break her dependency on pain killers. The two were headed to a happily ever after until Liam (Scott Clifton) and Steffy had an unplanned night of intimacy.

After discovering that she was pregnant, Steffy hoped that Finn was the dad, but a DNA test revealed Liam was the pop to be.

That all changed when Finn and Matthew Atkinson’s Thomas (maybe he really has changed?) confronted a well-intentioned Vinny (Joe LoCicero), who had switched the results hoping to pave a way for a reunion between Thomas and Liam’s wife Hope (Annika Noelle).

Viewers got to see the normally even-keeled Finn go to extreme anger and fury when, after overhearing enough information on what Vinny likely did, he blasted the lab tech for messing with his life!

Vinny’s an imposing figure, but when he was lying on the lab floor, we feared for him given Finn’s intensity. Fortunately, the joy upon finding out he was the father of Steffy’s baby replaced the unbridled anger he’d been feeling.

Finn Proves His Love To Steffy

Finn’s next stop was to keep Steffy from taking off to Paris where she decided to go in order to keep Finn from feeling obligated. While the climactic scene of Finn not only trying to stop Steffy but also proposing marriage to her, could have taken place on an airport tarmac, BB opted to shoot this scene outside of Steffy’s cliff house overlooking the beautiful Pacific ocean.

Despite the glorious view, Steffy could only look upon Finn as he passionately professed his love for her. “You need to stop talking now,” Finn told Steffy who laid out reasons why she had to leave town.

Then, in classic BB fashion, the leading man brandished the engagement ring, perfectly framed in a camera shot, and then the director cut to the closeup of Steffy gasping at both the rock and the gesture.

“I’ve always had an ideal in my head of the perfect woman for me,” Finn said. “She’s not a perfect woman, but she’s perfect for me. She’s funny, warm, and loving. She wouldn’t mind my crazy schedule because she’d have a full life of her own.”

Down on one knee, Finn proposed marriage. The episode ended before Steffy answered and before Finn told her that he’s the father of her child. This is important. It’s vital that Steffy say yes (don’t miss the episode in which she gives her answer, which we’re hoping is Monday) before finding out that it’s not only their child bonding them together but also their mutual love. Finn would want Steffy even if the baby was Liam’s.

Clearly, BB is making an investment in the character of Finn as he’ll be the father to a baby whose mother is a legacy character — the daughter of Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and the granddaughter of Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery).

This development is positioning Finn in a whole new place on the canvas. And we can’t wait to see what Novlan brings to his character next! The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.