Ryan's Hope Discussion Thread

[Khan]

IMO, Maeve Ryan was one of soap's greatest (and most unsung) matriarchs, because she was direct with everyone, but never out of maliciousness, and always from a place of love.  And I truly believe that was due to Gallagher herself, someone who did not brook foolishness from anyone.  She clearly gave so much of her own inner spark to Maeve; and as a result, I think that's why RH fans love and miss Maeve (and now, Helen) to this day.

[wonderwoman1951]

very nice obit in the ny times. never knew she had been married and divorced — and afterward had a longtime companion. 

here’s a gift link:

helen gallagher obit

[janea4old]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5HOi8xsU7/

thekatemulgrew

Goodbye to my first and only and enduring television mother, the incomparable Helen Gallagher: she was tough, kind, talented, full of laughter, and a triple threat to boot.

But always tender towards me.

Rest in peace, dear Helen.

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Edited November 28, 2024 by janea4old

[DRW50]

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[gimmetoo]

Fabulous interview about her stage career...and no Irish brogue !  

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interview/helen-gallagher/

[DeliaIrisFan]

Helen...what a lousy year this has been.  That's all I've got.

[DRW50]

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Oddly, I found an ad in a commercial bloc today that has a different version of the Ann portion. I suppose that's more common than I realized.

 

[DRW50]

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Interesting to hear Kate talk about why she came back to RH.

Edited December 13, 2024 by DRW50

[Khan]

"Mrs. Columbo"/"Kate Loves a Mystery" could have been a wonderful prime-time vehicle for Kate Mulgrew (even WITH the bad writing, lol), but Universal really set the show and her up for failure by tying them like they did with "Columbo."

Of course, I'm sure people remember her now from "Star Trek: Voyager" more than they do from RH, but I don't think KM should've been too horrified at the thought of people coming up to her and mentioning the show years after she had left.  It's not easy to become someone whom viewers welcome into their homes five days a week.  Many try, but they don't all succeed.  If and when they do, it's not a curse, but a blessing, because you know that, no matter where else you go in your career, you'll have a fan base who will follow you.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Khan

[DRW50]

Mimi Torchin chided her in SPW around the mid '90s for saying she wasn't known for other work, or for her stage plays like Hedda, etc. pointing out that Mulgrew hadn't done enough memorable work post-Mary to be recognized for those roles. But I always assumed Kate reacting that way was her knowing those roles just hadn't registered.

[Khan]

If Kate Mulgrew had concentrated on building a career and "name" for herself in theater post-RH, with the occasional film or TV guest role gig to supplement her income, she might've become another Julie Harris or Colleen Dewhurst.  But not only did she choose to concentrate instead on film and TV, she also attached herself to some very questionable projects, such as that "Reno Williams" movie mentioned in the interview. 

And I understand, too, that actors often have to take on projects that smell from a mile away just to keep their utilities on, but I also believe that if you want to achieve that next level in your career where the right projects come to you and the bad ones stay away, then there comes a point when you've gotta tell Ron Stephenson's people over at "Murder, She Wrote" not to put you up anymore for guest shots, if only so you DON'T end up spending years in thankless parts before lucking upon something like "Voyager" (which certainly wasn't "I, Claudius," or even DS9, but was something with a built-in fan base that finally gave her some name recognition beyond RH).  And I say that as someone who LOVES MSW.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Khan

[j swift]

Mrs. Columbo, staring Kate Mulgrew, was a flop, but in the age of three-network-primetime it was important enough that arguably she had become a big name outside of RH.  I understand that a soap columnist in the early 90s might have been dismissive of her fame, but she was still well known, especially from miniseries like the Manions of America.  I mean if you look at her IMDB she worked every year between her appearences on RH.

Edited December 13, 2024 by j swift

[VelekaCarruthers]

I love soap Xmas endings.  Had never seen this. They seemed like a great company in the early years.  I was always bored with Labine/Mayer's RH at the time. But I have a new appreciation for the early years after seeing some clips post Helen's death.  When Claire returned in the 1980s she hired an aspiring writer to do one script a week: David Appell. He and I were in a soap writing class at the New School in NYC taught by nutcase Barbara Seiger, a PBS writer who Tom King had hired to do scripts after Harding left.  David was a nice guy and he spoke very highly of Claire and how nurturing she was with new writers.  She tried out many script writers over the years some went on to big things.  

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[Khan]

I'm always amazed at how many awesome writers - Allan Leicht, Sherry Coben, Liz Coe, Jeffrey Lane, etc. - passed through RH over the years.  If nothing else, Claire Labine (and Paul Avila Mayer) had a knack for finding real talent.

[DRW50]

Thanks for the extra details. Fascinating.