Ryan's Hope Discussion Thread

[dc11786]

Kim's 1982 return feels forced. Once Michael was dead, it seemed like Labine and Mayer were quick to dispense with Kim. Given they were about to start the soap opera story, it would have made more sense to place Kim in that story as a rival to Barbara Wilde and play a Kim / Seneca / Barbara triangle. I can see how the additif a child would complicate things, but the child easily could have been dispensed to an (off-screen) nanny. So for her to return in March, 1982, after the conclusion of the "Proud and the Passionate" story seems network dictated. 

Reading the summaries made it clear that the "Kirklands Hope" label was a bit of an exaggeration. Before the oral history, I figured this was something that was cooked up by bitter actors who were sidelined during the time (mostly Ron Hale). The oral history really shed light on the "them vs. us" nature of the cast.

[DRW50]

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Surprised to see Pat #3 getting focus here given how short his time was in the role.

[John]

I thought Pat #2 was good. Never understood recasting Pat again in 1979. 

[DRW50]

I liked John Blazo a great deal. He brought a sensitivity and sincerity which was needed as a contrast to the rest of the family. I think he just didn't "pop" enough and that terrible story with Nancy didn't help.

[j swift]

Another irony that I just thought of.

Did Frank ever win an election and serve a full term in government?  He was a perpetual candidate, but not much of a civil servant.  And while everyone was telling Delia to work in order to find fulfillment, did anyone ever ask Frank to put his family before his career?  I mean, the man was constantly either about to move out of New York for work or in a hospital bed recovering. Dude, get a job.

#justicefordee, #respectherhustle

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[Sapounopera]

Currently watching Fall 1977 episodes.

I can't believe that Mary grew up in a house with two sisters. Sometimes I find KM's acting annoying, sometimes it feels like an acting exercise.

I will be sorry to see Frank 2 go. He seems a fun guy (now that Delia has sucked all life out of Pat) and is great with friends, family and kids. 

Rae has just shown up. I couldn't care less about her story. And the madness of her treating the hospital as a hotel, having a decorated room, choosing Frank to help her. I'd rather watch more Ryan family scenes.

Roger is one of my favorite characters and I could watch Maeve all day long.

BTW the sets are great.

Characters like Jambo and Kevin make this show so unique.

 

[Chris 2]

John Blazo would have been fine as another Ryan brother. But his Pat was a completely different character than the one Malcolm Groome played, and that’s why he was so hard to accept.

[John]

See I liked Blazo as Pat. I also liked Mary Carney as Mary. I dont know if it was pressure from ABC or Claire and Paul but they recast too fast. They dropped John and we got Robert Finnocolli who was I dont know what that was. Then they drop Mary Carney for Kathleen Tolan, Like WTF. Give your recasts time. If they had Mary may have survived the show. 

Edited June 24, 2024 by John

[DRW50]

I felt like he worked well enough as the core of the character. Groome had more energy but the life had mostly been taken out of Pat by that point anyway. I can imagine it was tough for viewers, but if the show had made any real effort, he could have lasted longer.

[TheyStartedOnSoaps]

When Geoffrey Pierson Fired & Replaced In 24 HRs On Ryan's Hope | Right In The Middle Of A Storyline

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Edited July 5, 2024 by TheyStartedOnSoaps

[Maxim]

I'm up to episode 12 and it's getting better and better. I watch one episode while cooking or tidying up. Nell's story is the one sucking me in. 

[Chris 2]

LOL - that’s not in middle of the scene. Those are separate scenes from separate episodes. And John Sanderford was not an emegency recast. the producers fired Geoff Pierson.

[DRW50]

Pierson has always seemed fine to me in the material I watched of him. Sanderford is much more generic. I don't know why they recast.

[Chris 2]

The producers were casting the role of Dakota, Johnny’s illegitimate son. The role was going to involve a lot of conflict with Frank. Both Christopher Durham and John Sanderford were finalists, and the producers liked them both, so they gave the role of Dakota to Durham and the role of Frank to Sanderford (and let Pierson go).

I liked Sanderford - he reminded me of Daniel Hugh Kelly, whom I consider the definitive Frank. Pierson’s Frank had more of an edge, but he was fine and had been in the role for a couple of years. I know he was well liked by the cast and they weren’t happy he was replaced.

Edited July 5, 2024 by Chris 2

[DRW50]

Thanks. You'd think if they had a decent Ryan actor they would have held onto them, but I guess not.