safe

After Ryan's Hope---

Helen Gallagher hated her roles on All My Children as Nurse Harris and One Life to Live as Dr. Maud Boylan. She doesn't like soap operas--- Ryan's Hope was more a play than a soap.

Ilene Kristen described her time on Loving as Norman Gilpin as lovely, creative, and fun---she loved what Millee Taggart and Tom King had her do. She turned down a contract but was on the show one year.

Louise Shaffer wrote for Loving. She called it a bad show ---it never had anything good. Was told to write less dialogue for actors who couldn't speak English very well. Described it as a nightmare but she needed the money. 

Cali Timmins received an offer she couldn't refuse from Another World. She thought the character Paulina was going to be different from Maggie (Ryan's Hope) but in some ways she felt she was playing the same character--- only with less guts. Although great people like Victoria Wyndham ---there was a lot of backstabbing and competiveness. She didn't enjoy playing the role.

Roscoe Born called Mitch Laurence on One Life to Live his favorite character. The two summer of 1985 & 1986 was the most fun he ever had a soap. They also treated him well and paid him well. More people watched OLTL than RH.

His Santa Barbara character, Robert Barr, was the most prototypical soap character he ever played and it was  most prototypical soap triangle he was in. He said he did excellent work and earned an Emmy nomination. He also thought he was nominated because it was high profile--- he did more soap press than he ever did before. A the soap may have pushed for the nomination to get him to resign.

Ash Adams was offered a contract to go to any ABC soap he wanted after RH. He turned down the offer to move home to California to pursue work there. He didn't want soaps to be his career.

Michael Levin said he missed the money the most.

I haven't talked about Dakota ---leave that to DeliaIrisFan or anyone else.

The cast and crew's relationship with Joe Hardy was much improved as time went on. The newer actors seem to love him instantly.  Even Ilene Kristen admitted that Joe wound up being  qualified to be a producer. 

Claire Labine was brought back because they knew the show's days were numbered.

There was shock, sadness, and devastation when told the show was cancelled.

While Ilene loved her final and favorite stint on the show, we knew that Nancy Addison and Malcolm Groome felt frustrated in their roles and they left. But Ron Hale had also been very unhappy those last 3-4 years. The reason he stayed was he had step-children he needed to help support. He said if the show had still been on once the last kid left home ---he would have left in a shot.

Maria Patillo was leaving before the cancellation. James Wlcek said there was outside interest in her.

The return of Seneca, Kevin, Bob, Mendenhall, Faith, Jill, Pat, Concetta, Maggie and Rae.

There are lots of wonderful memories of that final emotional day. 

Cali Timmins didn't like how Maggie was written mean and bitter for the wrap up.

The Charlotte Greer storyline penned to bring back viewers. Judith Chapman auditioned and was offered the role before she even left the building---to begin shooting the next day.  Roy Poole was in a wheelchair most of the time when he was off-camera. Judith and Geoff had filmed a fully clothed love scene that was very erotic---ABC was refusing to air it. Joe Hardy fought for it and ABC ran it. She was disappointed how the story wrapped up.

They gave Christine Ebersole ---who was in only 11 episodes-- a farewell party.

Christopher Durham said the Tiffany gift boxes ended when Capital Cities bought ABC.

Paul Mayer was the one who told people they were fired because Claire Labine wanted to be liked.

Joe Hardy had not wanted Pat Falken Smith as head writer.

Karen Morris-Gowdy thought that ---while viewers may have liked Faith Catlin and Nancy Barrett---they weren't embedded with them because they weren't on the show that long. Unlike Randall Edwards having to take over after Ilene left the show.

12 hours ago, John said:

Any truth to the rumor that even when not producing or writing RH that Claire Labine was used as a consultant?

There were a lot of statements in book ---made by cast and crew--- but no clear answers. It was the same with the 1981 writers strike. Some in the cast and production said Claire, Paul, and other writers worked on and edited scripts during the strike. Others said they didn't. Paul's daughter didn't think he did but even she couldn't say that for certain.

Louise Shaffer said she had a "type" she usually played---aristocratic, rich bitch, emotional under ice exterior. It's what she did. She was not part of the core characters. Enter Kelli Maroney ---the show needed a nymphet--- and this allowed Louise to keep her job. Although she does say after Kimberly's arrival she stopped being Rae Woodard and became Kimberly's mother.  She thought Michael Corbett was let go for political reasons and egos. Louise and Kelli practiced willful suspension of belief regarding Kim's incredible short pregnancy.She didn't think the Charlotte Greer story worked. Repeated a lot that she was just trying to pay off her mortgage. I already wrote about her being fired.

Jason "Ash" Adams ---he disliked the character being called "John Reid" and was happy when they settled on just calling him John. Ash and Catherine Larson did not like each other. He said he really didn't know her. He didn't care for their storyline and thought Lizzie didn't really want to be with John. He was not showcased in the sex symbol mode like Brian McGovern and James Wleck were. He was hardly ever shown with his shirt off. He heard from reliable sources that he wasn't Claire Labine's choice for the role.

11 minutes ago, danfling said:

I have been told that the late Pamela Toll (The Doctors, Pammy Davis on Somerset) was auditioned for the role of Mary at some point and that she was brilliant in the role.   However, she and the producers or network could not come up with her salary demands and she was never cast as Mary.

Perhaps their decision to then go with 3 unknown actresses as the recast Mary's was, partly, a financial decision.

Richard Backus thinks he read for Barry and for Ken George Jones ----Barry was the better part. The writers didn't know what to do with his character. He  had a lot to do when he first joined the show  ---and then was frustrated being more like furniture. He thought they should have reunited Barry and Delia. He resented Roscoe Born because Joe was getting close to Delia. He was then written out.

Trent Jones composed most of the songs he sang on the show. Network's Jackie Smith didn't want him hired for the part ---wanted someone who looked more like a rock star. Trent thought she gave in because it was going to be a short-term role.

Rose Alaio taught speech and the RH sound department loved the sound of her voice. Michael Levin would throw fits and yell during dress rehearsals and Rose would simply laugh. She was told Michael Levin was much calmer working with her. Ellen Barrett told her she needed therapy. After she was fired, the show still wanted to use Tom Aldredge. He didn't want to do it without her ---Rose told him to go back and do it.

There was another new tidbit with Malcolm Groome that I forget to put in my MG paragraph ---he said he dated Kathleen Tolan (Mary #3). He had  Helen introduce him after Helen and Kathleen were in a play together. He was very complimentary of Kathleen. He knew her theater work ---and said Kathleen was a compelling and charismatic actress.

I was surprised there weren't more dating and behind-the-scenes flings revealed in the book.

17 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Another actress had been cast I believe, she later played Maeve's sister.

With all the casting issues with Mary, I wonder why they didn't just send Jack and Mary out of town. Was Michael Levin that popular? esp w/o Kate M?

Then later they could return. If Levin wouldn't come back they could recast or have a new Mary return a widow.

Is there any actress around in the early 80's that posters think could have played Mary?

Right ---Pauline Flanagan was almost Maeve and later came on as Maeve's  sister Annie. Pauline also was one of the many Sister Mary Joel actresses. 

Michael Levin was popular and he received 3 Emmy nominations. Paul Mayer's daughter said he was a fan of Michael's.

I have never been in favor of  killing off of core family members---so I would have liked  Mary leave town with possibility of being recast down the road.

17 hours ago, Chris 2 said:

Margaret Colin would have made a good Mary, IMO.

That's a good one--- she might have made a good Siobhan recast too.

When I wrote that Michael Levin said Helen's suggestion  (Kathleen Tolan) was bad and he then said his suggestion was also bad--- I couldn't figure who he meant. I recalled that Nicolette Goulet was another one recommended by the cast ---so I figured that was who he was talking about. Now, I recall that it was John Gabriel who  brought Nicolette in for Mary. Back to having no idea what Michael meant with his suggestion was bad, too,  comment.

The show received hate mail about Frank and Diana's interracial romance---so ABC killed it. Some thought the story might have stood a better chance to pair Diana with Pat or some other lesser character rather than leading man Frank. 

There was not as much from Michael Levin as I expected---Jack and Mary was probably his favorite story. He said soap operas are female-driven and written with them in mind. He said none of the Mary recasts were right. He said Helen Gallagher's suggestion (Kathleen Tolan) was bad. His suggestion (Nicolette Goulet) was bad.  Karen Morris-Gowdy said Michael was very grumpy during this time because he was frustrated --- he let everyone know how unhappy he was. Times he says he didn't have anything to do. He pushed for Tichina Arnold to be hired ---it was fun ---but not much came from that. He didn't like the storyline with Jack's parents ---thought it was silly ----although it gave him certain dramatic scenes and he was flattered by the attention it gave him. He liked the return of Leigh.

Helen Gallagher never auditioned with Bernard Barrow ---and she didn't like him a first. Ryan's Hope is the children. Prince Albert was a fiasco and her least favorite story --- she liked Randall. Deceased Mary visiting her was one of her favorite stories. Helen said Ryan's Hope was the most welcoming show (which it wasn't , though, for a lot of actors) 

The show went to France for a location shoot in the mid-1980's. Someone said they didn't know how Joe Hardy got ABC approve this. There was also a comment that Joe and Jackie Smith were doing this to try and save the show. This was part of the Dubujax storyline and some cast members were envious but Marg Helgenberger was one who made the trip---so a Ryan went. Daniel Pillon had trouble remembering lines and blocking.

Walt Wiley had been an extra in scenes and made friends with everybody and got cast as Joe ---but blonde, tall Walt was not believable as Joe. Gerit Quealy thought Carrell Myers was too young and gentle to be Siobhan. Someone mentioned that she was tall, too ---and wouldn't have worked with Roscoe. When Claire Labine returned in 1987 --- and cut the story short sending Siobhan,Joe, and their son out of town.

Lois Robbins told of being fired from the CBN soap opera, Another Life, a day after she told the make-up man she was a Jewish-American. The make-up man asked if she was Italian. She said she was in the middle of a story when fired and called it brutal and eye-opening. She related the story of Ash Adams sticking his tongue in her mouth during a kissing scene and Joe Hardy scolding him. She was written out when Malcolm Groome left the show. She tried to talk him into staying.

In the new book, Ryan's Hope: An Oral History of Daytime's Groundbreaking Soap, Lois Robbins (Mandy Bolan on Another Life/Concetta D'Angelo on Ryan's Hope)  told of being fired from Another Life a day after she told the make-up man she was a Jewish-American. The make-up man asked her if she was Italian. She said she was in the middle of a storyline when fired and called it brutal and eye-opening.

The consensus was, as great as Robin Mattson was on General Hospital, she was miscast as Delia. Somebody thought Robin wasn't as secure in the role.

Cali Timmins did not love the Dave and Maggie relationship. She didn't understand the Maggie/Max story. She didn't like interaction with the younger set of 1984---on and off-camera. Scheming Maggie was more fun to play. Loved working with Ilene Kristen. James Wleck had a crush on her. She left the show to do other things. 

Ron Hale on the early years, again, were things we've heard before. How they really didn't know what to do with Roger until they put him with Ilene Kristen. Frank Latimore had a lot of trouble with his lines and Ron would mouth them to Frank when the camera was on Frank to help him.  Ron said he and Kate Mulgrew were like fire and water.  Roger and Rae were great comrades. Ron blocked out most of Prince Albert ---it was so off the wall. When Roger came to almost raping Maggie, a storyline he hated, Ron pushed them to make it because of excessive alcohol. New to me was Ron told the story about Malcolm Groome coming to him  after Malcolm overheard they were going to send Roger down the elevator shaft and kill him off. Ron went to the network's Jackie Smith and she told him she would take care of it. Ron said Delia/Roger/Maggie was fun but he blocked out a lot of those later years  and recalled more about the first 5 years. 

And Second Noah

Early one afternoon, in 1986, Ilene Kristen received a message from Joe Hardy that he wanted her to get in touch with him immediately. Ilene waited until 6 p.m. to return his call! LOL! They wanted her back on the show! (He made some awkward comments about weight during their conversation). He also said they were making her a grandmother. Ilene told Joe that she had a very big off-Broadway career happening and, if she came back, she might have to leave early some days. Joe agreed and said anything you want.

Roscoe Born returned to the show in 1988 at his request. Roscoe and Randall were running out of money. They paid him very well. It was for 13 weeks --- after about  8 of 9 weeks --- he learned they were going to kill Joe. This was to bring Siobhan back to the show and her relationship with Fenno.

On 10/28/2023 at 12:46 PM, Chris 2 said:

Karen Morris Gowdy also said that Claire Labine tried to lure her back a year or two before the show ended. She was reluctant to return because of how unhappy she was when she left, so she ultimately declined. And a short time later, she found out she was pregnant, so she felt it was the universe’s way of telling her she made the right choice.

Yes, Karen mentioned it on her Locher Room interview.  Several people in the book mentioned she wanted to be a mother--- even Randall Edwards mentioned it.

Catherine Hicks was hired  and she wanted a shorter contract  ---and they gave it to her because they needed a someone and they really liked her.  She felt frustrated in the role and wanting more of a story. She said the writing for Faith was strong at first--- and I think it was ---that first 10 or 11 months or so when Faith was in the thick of things between the Faith/Pat/Delia triangle coming together and lots of sister scenes with Jill. While she was part of the overworked doctors, and hospital strike story, and there was Delia's constant jealousy to deal with ---it was different for the rest of the year.   Things got better when they began with Tom Desmond & Faith relationship and Pat was anxious to leave Delia. To me, this was because Kate was gone and Mary (Mary Carney) had very limited screen time ---so it freed up air time for Faith. After landing her Broadway role, the show wanted her to stay and she was considering staying--- but the play had two months of out of town previews--- so she ultimately decided to leave 

Ilene Kristen was full of praise for Catherine and Ana Alicia's talents ---and how they took what they learned on RH and ran with it. Catherine and Ana were full of praise for Ilene.

Ana Alicia only had a year contract and told her Alicia wasn't that important of a character. Talked about that last minute decision to give the character an accent --- that Ana knew was inconsistent.  She wasn't given direction or motivation like when Alicia switched careers to work for Rae. Angel was there to show Alicia's love and depth but Jose Aleman  wasn't given anything to do.  Playing  Alicia made Ana not want to play the good girl anymore. She had gotten Falcon Crest six months after turning down a good girl role on Flamingo Road.

I didn't read much new from Malcolm Groome that we hadn't already heard over the years ---about how the show they changed Pat to a nice guy. After his addiction storyline, Malcolm said they didn't give him as much to play as an actor and it would have been fun to have played a more multidimensional character. He would have liked to have seen Pat remain a ladies man. Same stuff! One thing different --- he did say that he did not understand why Pat was with Melinda ---she was too young for him. Though, Melinda's death was a favorite scene of his.

There wasn't anything new revealed with Andrew Robinson, either. They pursued him for the role---after a long network battle they fired on Christmas day because of his Dirty Harry role. He said any actor is fired at least once in their career. He wanted to win the Emmy to stick it to the network. 

Karen Morris-Gowdy didn't care for the Theresa The Ghost story or the Merit Kara story. But she said it was a paycheck---so she did it. John Blazo told of how Karen kissed him when he was nervous in the middle of one of his auditions---he was supposed to kiss her. She loved playing Drunk Faith.  She was VERY unhappy on the show in 1983, and with Joe Hardy -felt he was tanking the show. She couldn't have stressed any more about how miserable she was! She said everyone was unhappy. She was fired even though she knew Joe liked her.  Karen felt Cali Timmins' Maggie had taken over and there wasn't room to work both characters (Faith and Maggie).  She was asked back in 1988 but turned it down to start a family and she still wasn't over how miserable she felt working on the show in 1983.

Louise Shaffer was fired, her Emmy hadn't even been engraved yet! Louise didn't get an exit scene like Karen. Joe didn't like Louise as much---someone thought Louise asked too many questions and Joe didn't like being questioned. Joe wanted to put his own stamp on the show. Ellen Barrett was now working at Search For Tomorrow and knew Louise needed a job and hired her to replace Marie Cheatman. Louise was very grateful to Ellen.

Randall Edwards used an internalized approach to her scenes. The Crystal Palace was her favorite storyline. She thought Roger and Delia were perfect for each other. She saw the Prince Albert script and said OK and just went with it and was disappointed Delia's past lives story didn't happen. She had fun dancing with Michael Corbett. She spoke very highly of Roscoe Born---amazing, intelligent, kind, passionate. She left to do other things. The press said the show offered her a lot to stay but Randall didn't recall them offering her a lot of of money. As for her brief time as a temporary Annie on As the World Turns --- she didn't think she could playing a straight up leading lady-type for any long period of time after playing a character like Delia.

Michael Corbett and the killing of Michael Pavel---Michael's recount of being told by Ellen Barrett and having her sound more sympathetic and him  appreciative of the heads up is a different version than he had on his website (is it still on his website?) back 15 years ago or so were he compared it to a "Devil Wears Prada" type conversation where Ellen was short and curt with him.  In the book, he said he knew a few weeks a head of time (which I think was what he said in a 1983 SOD interview) and online he said he only knew 6 or 7 days before getting shot.

The press liked Maureen Garrett and her character of Elizabeth Jane Ryan but the viewers didn't.  Roscoe Born said a lot of the core cast didn't like Maureen and Will Patton, either --- he called them outsiders. He added the other cast members seemed to not like most new actors brought in to the show. Ilene Kristen was crazy about Will Patton, though.

Before Roscoe Born had started, Paul Mayer told him, that when his contract comes up for renewal, don't re-sign. Paul daughter thought her father saw some star power in Roscoe and that was why Paul gave that guidance.

When Marg Helgenberger started, Roscoe gave her the same advice. Early on, Roscoe and many others saw a bright career for Marg away from the show. Some say Marg was quirky like Sarah ---some say she wasn't--- but all agreed Marg had that something special. The cast and crew loved Marg--- she was magic --- and even more so with Roscoe. Someone likened Max and Siobhan to Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy type relationship. Some liked the story and some didn't. 

23 hours ago, gimmetoo said:

@safe Was Yasmine Bleeth interviewed ?  She was a teen when she started on RH and she dated Grant Show...bet she has lots to share.

Michael Levin said Yasmine was very sweet and pretty. She was also described as amazing and a joy. Ash Adams adored her.

On the pairing of Ryan and Rick with Ryan and Yasmine being so young --- here were some of the comments from writers ,directors, and other in production were 

It was creepy

Yasmine did wonderfully being her first job---Grant did not make the paring work

Grant gave Yasmine a little more gravitas

The pairing never worked

Grant was also a bit of a problem on the set

35 minutes ago, gimmetoo said:

@safe Was Yasmine Bleeth interviewed ?  She was a teen when she started on RH and she dated Grant Show...bet she has lots to share.

No, she wasn't. Grant Show was not part of this either. It would have been great to hear from both of them

18 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Such a wonderful site, especially all the old articles. I was so grateful to find it after starting RH on Soapnet.

I hope DeliaIrisFan is still around and pops back in soon.

There is also Sean's Ryan's Hope site. 

https://www.geocities.ws/ryanshope75/

12 hours ago, gimmetoo said:

Big Randall Edwards fan here...I recall Helen being very fond of Randall and of course Roscoe married her, so she endeared herself to some (if not all).

Randall was a great. Randall and Ann Gillespie became close friends.

I forgot to add that Kirstie Alley had auditioned for the role of Siobhan #2. Roscoe Born noted that she was taller than he was and if she got the job they wouldn't have hired him.

There is a lot of Ilene WAS/IS Delia comments by many people in the book. To her credit, I have yet to read anything about Randall Edwards letting that get to her. On the show, Randall kept to herself. 

Both Randall and Roscoe Born were glad they didn't pair up Delia and Joe romantically.

The audience and Helen Gallagher did not like Maeve's dance contest storyline. 

There was some writer that wanted Seneca to come out as a homosexual.

Michael Levin wanted a romantic relationship for Jack and Siobhan. Claire and Paul decided against it.

Sarah Felder---There weren't really any new details about her firing  or Richard Muenz. Many liked and loved her. Ilene said Sarah didn't understand authority and didn't understand that she was not a writer of the series. Sarah could be very brusque (Ilene's word) with people and very angry.

The show had wanted Ann Gillespie to dye her hair brown to be closer to Sarah's hair color.  They put a rinse instead that would eventually wash out. Later on, and just like with Sarah Felder, the show told Ann they were cutting her hair. 

Once again similar to Sarah Felder, Ann had a temper and threw fits. Ann admits she was not the most mature person at that point in her career or as a human. Ann blew up on the set one time at director Lela Swift--- and also criticized the script --- two days later she was fired.  Ann wasn't happy on the show and now says she wishes she had handled things better back then.

Roscoe liked working with Ann. Rose Alaio loved her.

Louise Shaffer knew she was out when they hired Gloria DeHaven. She said the show didn't need two over-the-hill divas.

In yesterday's Locher Room interview, author Tom Lisante mentioned Ryan's Bar Online and it's webmaster ---our own DeliaIrisFan! aka ItsnotDeliasfault on the SoapNet forum.