Ryan's Hope Discussion Thread

[amybrickwallace]

Until I read your post, safe, I didn't know that Kate Mulgrew had written a memoir. Right after reading your post, I went to my library's website and placed a hold on it. So thanks for alerting me.

In 2000, she came close to being first lady of my state of Ohio. Her husband ran for governor of Ohio that year but lost to incumbent Bob Taft.

[YRBB]

I just love that you still do things like, putting a library book on hold or writing a letter to an artist! I mean, a letter! Adorbs. Carry on.

[Dave_01]

safe - Thanks for summarizing the RH-related bits of Kate's book. I know it would be off-topic, but does she say anything about the time she guest starred on an early episode of Dallas, or about her starring role in that unfortunate Mrs. Columbo series?

[amybrickwallace]

I know that Peter Falk never appeared on the Mrs. Columbo show, but I can't even imagine him and Kate Mulgrew playing a married couple. She looks more like his daughter than his wife, but on the other hand, her RH husband Michael Levin was about the same age as Mr. Falk.

[safe]

You're welcome -- the copy I read was also from a library :-)

The book is a good read, but it ends with her beginning a relationship with Tim Hagen. It wasn't until just recently that I realized Kate had divorced Tim.

[safe]

I don’t recall anything about Dallas.

She only talked briefly about Mrs. Colombo.

At that first meting with Fred Silverman and others, Kate blurted out that Peter Falk was old enough to be her father (and her grandfather). They explained the concept to her. She politely declined... she wanted to do theater (she explained earlier in that chapter that being on Ryan's Hope had confirmed her suspicion that TV did not fulfill her creatively)

Her manager had her talk to Fred again, There were what she called extravagant promises made (she does not go into any details of the those promises) and so she said it was an offer she couldn't refuse.

The main thing she said was she worked 7 days a week and that left her weary and sleep deprived (that had her sneaking naps wherever, and whenever, she could)

She called Mrs. Columbo TV series well intentioned but misguided.

Edited April 21, 2015 by safe

[amybrickwallace]

I didn't even know she and Tim Hagan had divorced. I wonder if his alleged involvement in the infamous Cuyahoga County (where Cleveland is located) corruption scandal put too much strain on their relationship.

[NothinButAttitude]

Just watched an episode feature Judith Chapman as Charlotte Greer. Can anyone please tell me the story surround this character? She seems interesting.

[amybrickwallace]

All I know about it is that a lot of RH fans say it was the last great story the show ever did. It was penned by the returning Labine/Mayer, and Charlotte Greer claimed to have married Frank in the time he was off the show (DHK departed in 1981 and GP took over the role in 1983).

[DRW50]

Thanks to the book recap, safe. I skimmed through some in a bookstore last week to see what she had to say. I appreciate you giving the full details.

She mentioned that she was sure viewers must have known what was going on, but the papers kept quiet about it.

She also said that she and her mother went to a porno movie to induce labor, as they could sit and laugh at how bad it was.

She also went into a bit of detail about Claire Labine getting her to do the movie they made together.

[NothinButAttitude]

I wish that someone post more clips of it b/c it seems like it was an interesting. Did Charlotte become a nut or something?

[DRW50]

I think she tried to kill Frank.

[amybrickwallace]

I think that plot did eventually lead to Frank and Jill finally tying the knot (in his hospital room).

[NothinButAttitude]

Interesting. I am going to comb through the board and see if I can find some summaries from around that period [all of 83].

[amybrickwallace]

I still think it's a shame that the now-defunct SoapNet would quit showing reruns after 1981, and would just go back to the beginning of 1975. There had to be a way to work through copyrights, or whatever the issue was.