TheyStartedOnSoaps

I'm watching an episode of Another World from 1990, and Rachel Cory is in San Cristobal searching for the truth about Mac past While in San Cristobal, wonder if Prince Richard will invite the esteemed Mrs. Mackenzie Cory to dinner at the palace. Or maybe Rachel might stumble onto a wet Reva Lewis washed up on the San Cristobal beaches.

Actually Kim Zimmer got six weeks off to test the waters for pilot season in L.A. - she said later she went on many auditions and got one offer for a sitcom, but she would one of many in an ensemble. She turned it down, because it wasn't worth leaving Guiding Light for a supporting role on a sitcom.

I believe it was Mark Arnold's family that taped all the shows. It was the same with Ariane Muneker - her mother bought a video recording machine in the 1970s, at a time when that type of technology was really expensive John Wesley Shipp's parents also taped all his shows, and has a complete library of every single episode of every soap JWS has appeared on. Same for Cynthia Watros. When the Soap Actors parents pass away, and there are all these VHS tapes in dozens of boxes, it is shame to waste all that.

Andrea Evans’ Original Audition as Tina Clayton in 1978 for One Life to Live

Yes he did - he sent a request to her publicist, but never heard back

Tichina Arnold talks "Ryan's Hope" in a new interview this past May 2024 You played Zena Brown on Ryan’s Hope. Have you seen Tom Lisanti’s book — Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap? No, I didn’t know there was one! I’ve got to look for that! Ryan’s Hope was my first professional role [as a TV series regular]. Then, I went to All My ‘Kids’ [AKA All My Children as Sharla Valentine], too! What did you learn from doing soap operas? I learned what not to do. By that, I mean back then, we had teleprompters. Actors were known as “not the best” because they’re on soap operas. I say no, it’s not that they’re not good actors. They are. It’s that they’re reading teleprompters. I trained myself to remember my lines. Did anyone take you under their wing and show you the ropes? Yes. Michael Levin, who played Jack Finelli. Bless his heart and God rest his soul. [Editor’s note: the Daytime Emmy-nominated actor passed away on January 6 of this year at the age of 90.] It was because of him I got on the show. Michael insisted I get the part. He fought for me. He told me, “Tichina, when I saw your audition, I wanted you to get the role.” https://www.tvinsider.com/1134502/the-neighborhood-season-6-finale-toni-braxton-marty-courtney-baby/ In 2022 she said about Michael Levin “I've been blessed to have been around a lot of people who saw my potential and Michael Levin's one of them. I did a soap opera called Ryan's Hope years ago when I was about 17 years old and they didn't want me because I just didn’t have the soap opera look,” Arnold said. “I was a dark-skinned Black woman with crooked teeth. You didn't see that on soap operas, but it was Michael Levin's storyline and he said, ‘Tichina, I had to fight for you. I had to fight for you because you know, the network didn't want you, they wanted someone else.’ And I said, ‘Why did you fight for me?’ and he said, ‘When you came in and auditioned, you just lit up the room. I didn't want anybody else after I saw you.’ That gave me a lot of confidence.” https://www.uptownmagazine.com/entertainment/tichina-arnolds-secret-to-longevity-is-being-able-to-put-her-ego-to-the-side

The episode she got killed off in - which made Wendy a prime suspect in her murder (her car was spotted outside the house) and then Wendy mysteriously disappeared from town.

I can't believe sweet and innocent Sarah Whiting would call Evie Stone a "tramp" and Wendy Carter a "slut"! Phillip Brown and Maree Cheatham did not get along at all

These episodes Mitch S. is uploading. Numerous male actors performed their scenes without a shirt. While John Conboy started the trend, it seems that "Search" picked up where Conboy left off. On another note, Louan Gideon seems to be on everyday in the episodes Mitch S. is uploading. It must have been a letdown when she had no storyline in the final months of "Search" after Jacquline Shultz became David Forsythe's new leading lady. Even Marcia McCabe had a storyline those final months. But Louan had nothing to do once Hogan was paired up with Patti.

Anthony Geary Talks About His Love Life Outside Of GH - General Hospital

I think it was terrifc how gracious Jerry and his wife were with the fans and those luncheons Now is it possible that Jane blew up because there were visitors on the set that day (as you witnessed). Because one of the reasons Soap Opera tours were rare, is because actor don't like many people on the set - as it detracts from their concentration when a doing a scene. Maybe Jane was doing a very important scene that day, and no one told her there are visitors on the set watching her perform.

Well I guess it was the "Smiley" Jane Elliot who showed up to Jerry Ver Dorn's fan club luncheon.

Elizabeth Dennehy was fired because Pam Long didn't feel she was the right fit for Blake. It was also during this time that Betty Rea caught Sherry Stringfield at an actor showcase her college SUNY Purchase put on. Rea was so impressed that she went straight to the brass and insisted they hire Stringfield. Telling them if there is no female character coming up, create one. Rea felt Stringfield was that good, and the show needed to sign her to a contract pronto, while they had the chance So it was perfect timing that Long wanted Dennehy out and Rea wanted Stringfield to be hired for any female role coming up. Footnote to this story, when Michael Zaslow became ill and started his Zas Angels charity, Elizabeth Dennehy showed up to offer support at one event. She straight up to Maureen Garrett and said "Hi Mom!"

Back then they had a major problem recasting that part after Simms left. Despite Betty Rea magic at casting, they could not find an actress to play the part. Rea actually flew to LA TWICE to auditions hundreds of blonds. At one point they even approached Simms to come back, but both sides were still far apart of the length of the contract. I suspect that Betty Rea might've had some good choices, but JFP veoted them all (JFP is not good at spotting talent like Rea). Crampton was actually approached by JFP to play Mindy, but at the time she didn't want to leave LA. Finally they settled on Ann Hamilton Weeks later Crampton bumped into JFP at the Soap awards, and said she had second thoughts. JFP told Crampton to send her demo tape. Based on that tape JFP offered Crampton the role, no audition required. Unfortunately for Ann Hamilton, she lost her job as she was told on a Friday night after filming her scenes not to come back on Monday. She was done.

But you have to remember NBC was raiding talent from ABC - they got Brian Frons, they got Pat Falken Smith and her ENTIRE writing staff from General Hospital, they got Thaao Penghlis, they got Marcy Walker. That is what made ABC Executives nervous that Agnes Nixon would be next to be poached by NBC, if she didn't get what she wanted.

As recounted in the Ryan's Hope book - ABC already lost Pat Falken Smith to NBC More from the Ryan's Hope book about Agnes Nixon stabbing them in the back

Fun fact - Krista Teserau was up for the part of Gloria on All My Children. It came down between her and Teresa Blake. We all know that Teresa Blake got the part, and the word was that Krista wasn't sensual and tortured that the character Gloria needed to be. Years later Krista AMC screentest landed on the desk of OLTL casting director, and they hired her for the recast part of Tina. No audition necessary as it was a straight forward offer, based strictly on her screentest for Gloria.

It should be said that Michael Zaslow and his family launched a charity called "Zas Angels" and MANY Guiding Light stars went to those events to support Zaslow. I can't remember off-hand who, but one I do remember is Justin Deas brought his wife (Margaret Colin) and his two sons to one fundraising event. and for those who are blasting Kim Zimmer, she headlined a Michael Zaslow event and asked her former "Doctors" co-star Alec Baldwin (who then a big star) to co-host the event with her (video below) - many of the Guiding Light stars were upset over how Zaslow was treated, and did everything the could to support his charity

It was during the time Michael Zaslow went back to One Life To Live, as he also attended OLTL annual fan club luncheon. Who else showed up at this OLTL fan event? Fiona Hutchison, who played Gabrielle on OLTL. Fiona showed up to offer support for Zaslow and told the press that the entire cast of Guiding Light was behind Zaslow 100% Soon after Fiona was fired for GL, with a year to go on her contract.

Alice Barrett said that Kevin Carrigan (Derek) was prima-donna backstage, and threw his weight around. He was literally like the second coming of George Reinholt. P&G and producers saw the writing on the wall, and went through this once, and didn't want to go through it again. So they fired his butt.

The issue is not the fact ABC asked Agnes Nixon to create another soap. The issue is that Agnes Nixon went to the network and threatened to bolt to NBC if they didn't give her Ryan's Hope timeslot At the times Nixon was probably the second most powerful woman at ABC (after Gloria Monty) - and ABC could not afford to have Nixon go to the competition. Yes it is business, but Ryan's Hope felt thrown under the bus so Agnes Nixon could have her way. That is the issue.

Guiding Light Emergency "Beth" Recast in the middle of a scene!

When Agnes Nixon Stabbed Ryan's Hope In The Back For Her Soap Opera "Loving"

After Jacqui was fired from One Life To Live, Joe Stuart should've hired her to play Ann Alden.