Brady and Isabella Black

Eric and Brandon Billings and Chelsea Butler

John and Marlena were in bed about to make love, when some little people came knocking on the door. It was Brady {Eric} and Belle {Chelsea}.

Brady and Belle both jumped up on the bed and gave their mom and dad a kiss. John asked Brady {Eric} what they were up to today. Brady said "We are going swimming with Grandpa Brady."

Chelsea said the kids were really happy to have John and Marlena back from Europe. They were also excited about the wedding of their "big sister" {Sami} tomorrow. Pictured: Eric as Brady.

Belle and Brady {Eric} were all dressed up for Sami and Franco's wedding. Sami had picked out Brady's tuxedo and Belle's fancy white dress for the occassion. Chelsea and Brandon were filming the wedding episodes the day Howie Mandel saw them in the hall. The kids wore the same wardrobe on his show when it was filmed the next day.

As Belle and Brady {Eric} waited for Sami and Franco's wedding to proceed, Caroline and Marlena played Ring Around the Rosie with them in the garden.

Brandon Billings and Chelsea Butler, as they entered The Howie Mandel Show. Howie saw them dancing in the hallway, since Days and Howie tape in the same studio, and he asked the kids to come on his show.

Richard Simmons was on the show with Brandon and Chelsea. Left to right: Richard, Brandon, Chelsea and Howie.

Richard told Chelsea she had shoes like his shirt. Richard had a shirt on that had a rainbow "H" on it. Chelsea's shoes were white and sparkly. Chelsea was prepared for some questions that Howie Mandel was going to ask her, including her love of tea parties with her stuffed animals, but they never got around to that because Richard was busy talking to them.

Howie asked if they liked acting and how long they had been doing it. Brandon started to say 5 weeks, when Howie started to ask the next question. Howie then let Brandon finish, and he said 5 weeks. He was answering for Chelsea, who had been on the show about that long. The boys have been on the show almost 4 years.

Howie then asked what their character names were. Brandon answered "Brady Black." Howie asked him if he played the part alone, then said "you have a twin brother, right?" Brandon turned to look for Eric who was standing at the stage door.

Howie invited Eric on the show too. Richard told Eric where to sit. Howie asked "You play Brady Black also?" Eric nodded his head yes.

Richard decided to say that the kids were his kids, he even renamed them. Chelsea was Stephanie, Brandon was Andrew and Eric was Bob. Richard told Eric "Hi, Bob" and Eric waved his hand. Richard visited the kids in their dressing rooms before the show. He delivered Chelsea her favorite food--jelly sandwiches cut in circles prepared by the studio for her. She met him then and was a little frightened by his overwhelming presence.

Howie asked if they sang and danced, Brandon answered "No." Brandon kept watching Richard, paying almost no attention to Howie.

Howie said "they are not looking at me at all." Richard said "It's because you are not a Rainbow." Richard told Brandon to "talk to Howie, or you will go into therapy, just talk--let it all out." Chelsea and Brandon couldn't stop talking to Howie when they first met. He has a great understanding of small children and they had a great rapport. However, being in front of a live audience was new to the kids, so they were a bit hesitant.

Howie asked the kids if the wanted a shirt like Richard's. Brandon gave a look like, "No way." Chelsea smiled and said "Yeah." Eric didn't answer.

Howie asked Chelsea "What is your character's name?" Chelsea said, "Ummm, Ummm." Brandon leaned over and said "Belle." Chelsea turned and gave him a look like, I was going to say that.

Richard told the kids to wave.

The Howie Mandel Show, August 17th, 1998. From left to right: Eric and Brandon Billings and Chelsea Butler. Overall, it was a great experience, according to their families. The kids were treated like royalty.

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