gimmetoo

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/25/arts/kamar-de-los-reyes-dead.html

Our girls on Today Show looking beautiful as always !

Baby Come To Me by Patti Austin and James Ingram was Luke and Holly's song...takes me back every time I hear it.

Lovely NY Times tribute https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/arts/television/lara-parker-dead.html

This appeared in today's print edition https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/31/arts/television/tyler-christopher-dead.html

Just finished the book… Bravo to Tom Lisanti…Not only for a well written read and for tracking down so many cast members, but for getting published a thoroughly researched 400-page hardback history of a TV series that aired its last original episode 35 years ago…not to mention the series was a soap opera that never achieved huge commercial success ?! Amazed by his tenacity ! And thankful to have this era in entertainment history so well documented… A few observations: - Clearly Claire Labine was the beating heart of the series. She is well represented and praised throughout. But it's disappointing that her children declined to participate in documenting their mother's legacy — especially considering two eventually became writers on the show. Paul Avila Mayer’s daughters provide candid and valuable insights into the show, their father and Claire. - The enormous importance of casting is wholly evident as you look back. Both the brilliant: Helen and Bernie, Kate, Ilene, Nancy, Roscoe, etc. And the blundered: the revolving door of Ryans, Geoff Pierson’s firing, not realizing that Roscoe and Kate were irreplaceable, etc. - I missed hearing from the show’s heroines — Nancy (RIP), Marg, Yasmine — but I don’t miss Kate. Her shadow loomed large over the show even after she left — oftentimes to the show’s detriment. Her impact on the show is referenced throughout. - Wish we would have gotten more insights into the BTS romances. It is a soap opera after all…Minor references are made to Randall and Roscoe's relationship, but I wanted to hear from Geoff and Cali about their romance that evolved into a decades-long marriage. One actor commented that Geoff’s firing was especially difficult for Cali. No one spoke about Yasmine and Grant’s relationship…only that their on-screen pairing didn’t work, which was odd since they sparked off-screen. - So brilliant to hear from the writers, producers, crew, etc. They were all very candid and shed light on the BTS machinations, especially the battles with the network.

Anyone read John Stamos' book yet ? Wondering what he says about his GH days.

I'm about half way through the book...a great read ! Curious the consensus on the rounds and rounds of re-casting of the Ryans. Of course, actors leave...but for so many others, were Claire and Paul making bad choices, or was it network interference, or what was causing such churn ? I'm at the point where Anne Gillespie was pushed out. Was her negative attitude so disruptive that it was worth ANOTHER recast of a Ryan ?! Yes - we got Marg who was the definitive Siobhan, but did Ellen Barrett and ABC not realize how disruptive all the re-casting was to story, audience and cast harmony ? On a show that made so many brilliant casting choices (Helen, Bernie, Nancy, Michael Levin, Ron Hale, etc.)...I don't understand why the casting of the Ryan children was always so difficult.

@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.

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).

Pre-ordered the book but still have not received it. Today's Locher Room offered more bread crumbs. Lots of time spent individually with the author talking about his research, love of the show, relationship with Ilene, etc. Towards the end, Ilene and Chris joined. Interestingly, Ilene's return and Chris' start on the show were under headwriters Millee Taggert and Tom King. Millee wrote to Ilene's comedic strengths which Ilene appreciated. When Claire Labine returned, she admitted she never would have created an illegitimate son for Johnny Ryan -- she only kept Chris on so she could turn Dakota into a villain.

Anyone care to share opinions on the various Masons ? Lane Davies was obviously chef's kiss...but how do GT and TL compare ?

Ilene is a pip and a total pro. She deserves more opportunities to shine… She demurred when asked about the others who played Delia — instead commenting on the writing they had to work with. She admitted the Prince Albert story was not one she could have done. Lisanti opened by saying it was Delia that got him hooked on RH…interestingly Delia at the time was played by Randall Edwards. Randall was my first Delia too, and I always enjoyed her shiksa goddess version of Delia. I’m in the minority I know…but the Prince Albert storyline got my 8-yr-old self hooked on RH. I agree that the storyline wouldn’t have worked with Ilene — she was no damsel in distress.

Worth a listen...Ilene was gorgeous, funny and real (as always). Said she could not have done the Prince Albert storyline. Only had praise for her co-stars but was more candid about various EPs, ABC, storylines, etc. Admitted she really enjoyed her final years back on the show. Tom Lisanti looks to have gotten lots of great interviews (including Helen), but said that Kate Mulgrew refused -- and Ilene explains why. Also not participating in the book were Marg Helgenberger, Grant Show, Tichina Arnold and Maureen Garrett. Amazingly both Michael Levin and Roscoe Born were interviewed before their deaths. Can't wait to read it !

Beautiful tribute...and their friendship sounds so true and without agenda, rare in Hollywood I am sure.

Jennifer Ashe appeared on Locher Room this week. She shared memories of her start on Loving and fondly recalled John Cunningham and especially Anne Williams who mentored her during their heavy storyline.

Can you link to the article ?

Had never heard that Jacobs and John Pleshette had this connection...so very soapy. During that time, Jacobs’ marriage to Lynn Oliansky, whom he had married in 1963, was ending amicably. In 1975, she announced she was marrying actor John Pleshette and moving with him to Los Angeles. (Pleshette would portray Richard Avery on Knots Landing.) Lynn intended to become a writer’s agent in Los Angeles. Wanting to stay close to their daughter Albyn, Jacobs was willing to follow them west but insisted that his ex-wife get him work.

ABC Daytime clearly benefitted from the efforts of a savvy network marketing team. To this day, I can still so clearly hear the "Loooove in the Af-Ter-Noon..." lead in to the ABC Daytime commercials. And as a kid I was ridiculously enthralled by those Daytime Dilemma challenges. The ABC actors were always willing to spend their weekends with Joyce Becker meeting fans at mall appearances and softball games in the local markets. Any idea how much the actors got paid for those ? Those appearances were total fuel for soap fever.

First saw her playing Mary Beth Evans' mother on mid-80s syndicated soap Rituals. RIP.

Helen was showing her age...but she still looks beautiful and to hear the lilt of her voice again was a treat. Such a good move bringing Malcolm on alongside her.

For sure, 80s era AMC had great comedic characters: Langley and Phoebe, Opal, Edna, Verla Grubbs, Tad the Cad and Erica Kane of course...

Anna Holbrook was just on The Locher Room and described her time on OLTL as "tricky." She said the set "wasn't very healthy" vaguely referencing certain actors running the show and separate factions among the cast. Any insights ? She went on to praise Erica Slezak as very professional and a class-act. Anna's storyline was backburner-ed when Clint Ritchie had his accident.

Check out Soap Opera Digest's Billy Warlock podcast... Interesting tidbits about his year on Capitol. He was close to Catherine Hickland and especially Todd Curtis and enjoyed working alongside old-timers Richard Egan, Constance Towers and Rory Calhoun. Even more great tales from his decades in Daytime (DOOL, GH, etc.)...

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/us/jackie-zeman-dead-general-hospital.html