GL/AMC: Kim Zimmer's comments about RPG and BE leaving

[Sylph]

She is Guiding Light's undoing. The same way Erica Kane is AMC's. No matter whether she is the only good or bad thing. It is the same.

Who is to blame for Kim? Many. For Erica? Well, Agnes Nixon, who focused to much of her show on one person. And that was such a dumb thing to do. No matter how iconic the character is.

[Cat]

Yeah, I never saw what was so special about Bogue either. But everywhere I looked -- "Mallet = AWESOME!"

And IA that Kim Zimmer would be heavily promoted were she to join another soap. However, her power on that new soap? Would be severely diminished compared with her GL days, especially in the 80s and 90s.

I wasn't a fan of hers after she arrived on Santa Barbara (admittedly, decades ago) and proceeded to be hugely over-exposed. However, I've watched enough of GL to know that she can turn on the charm and the talent. She is GL's Lucci, GL's Slezak.

The impression I get of her -- and this is strictly my own opinion -- is somebody who hides her true self behind a megawatt smile and "It's showtime! There's no bidness like show bidness!" attitude. Sometimes I have a feeling there is a lonely and insecure person behind all the go-get-em dynamism -- and for that, I feel for her because those are very human qualities. She obviously brings that out in her portrayal of Reva. However, other times she says catty things about colleagues to the soap press. It's all HUGELY enjoyable to read but also gives me the impression that she will backstab fellow actors at a moment's notice.

Having read what jp said about her -- well, I trust jp's judgment and she sounds very giving, relatable and upfront.

[Greg's GL]

Sylph - I understand where you're coming from relating to the story Reva/KZ drives on GL (or used to). It's true that the character of Reva has been arguably the center of the show for the last 20 years or so. However, is that the reason for the KZ-focused animosity on SON? I get the feeling that it's more personal than the character she plays on the show. And it's always associated with her "big mouth". Although Erica/SL hogs as much airtime on AMC, I never see as many disparaging remarks about the actress - unlike Reva/KZ.

Agreed.

Interesting. Never thought of her like this before, but I can understand how you would come to this impression.

For me, I love her and I love her on GL. When my late Mother Dear would watch GL with me back in the 80s when Reva was introduced, she couldn't stand her. We had some very good point/counter-point discussions about her...

[Sylph]

It has a lot to do with what you're saying, and yes - it's not the character she plays. She just comes off... dumb (well, that's harsh, she's not dumb), for the lack of a better adjective, as if she just says all these things without any thinking... One is puzzled by the sheer disparateness of it all. 

Believe me, I do not like trashing people one least bit and I surely do not enjoy it... But she just awakes the irritability in me.

And as Cat says - yes, I think she's hiding her real persona. I think she's a good person, I do, but that just becomes irrelevant when she starts talking... She erases it.

[Greg's GL]

I've seen enough of your posts to know that you don't trash people for no reason, so we're cool. I was just really curious about your take on her and now I know. Isn't it interesting that two people can come away with completely different impressions of someone? Fascinating.

That's why I enjoy SON threads and posting here...

[R Sinclair]

Well, I can't help you when it comes to explaining the SON animosity toward KZ. I'm just speaking for me when I groan whenever this woman opens her mouth.

As for Erica on AMC, Susan Lucci is a team player. I am SURE that Lucci has had at least one or two negative personal feelings about her storylines or her castmates or her airtime over the last 38 years. Thing is, we never heard it. She's supports her family, she doesn't bad mouth it. True, I may be tired of Erica being written and portrayed as a never-maturing 25 year old, but I will give Lucci her much deserved credit for leading by example. She is the queen of AMC, and even SHE doesn't trash talk or complain.

[Sylph]

But, of course, Greg would welcome your post on why you hate Kim Zimmer. So would I.

[rhinohide]

So many people talk about how important (and rare) actor chemistry is. This pairing or that pairing is better purely because of chemistry. I don't agree mind you, primarily because "chemistry" is entirely subjective IMO, but presuming there are people in positions of power that do ascribe to the chemistry is paramount theory, it makes sense to try to capitalize on two actors who have proven chemistry together on one show by moving them intact and pairing them together on another. Interestingly, since most of us seem to agree that it rarely works well, what does that say about how important chemistry really is? Where does it go? How can it exist in one environment and evaporate in another? Was it ever real?

[R Sinclair]

Hold on, let me clarify -- before someone who just LOVES themself some Zimms comes in here and lectures me on how pathetic I am to HATE someone I don't even know.

I don't HATE Kim Zimmer. I just have no use for her. She rubs me the wrong way. She irritates me. Her acting is the brand of "intesity" that I simply can't stand (be loud, abrasive, shrill and over the top and GET EMMYS FOR IT brand of acting). Then, of course, the constant "speaking out," as if she's being horribly mistreated. GROAN! The list goes on -- but as far as this thread topic goes, she just annoyed me. Why not just wish BE & RPG luck, tell them you'll do lunch, and keep it moving?

[Sylph]

Totally co-sign. Totally. Basically what I was saying.

[rhinohide]

The quote in it's entirety

I must not be as good at reading between the lines as others. She said she's heartbroken that they're gone. She discusses that RPG was upfront and handled it beautifully while Beth "is a totally different story". I guess she means Beth was not upfront (doesn't necessarily translate to secretive and sneaky) and did not handle it beautifully. But she also acknowledged that perhaps BE's circumstances were different and indicates that Beth wasn't treated with respect. The writing for Harley in the last months crucified the character so I tend to agree. KZ seemed very understanding of why the actors left and wasn't insulting to either of them in the least IMHO.

I respect that she acknowledges that anything she says is going to be open to interpretation or spin, but she's going to speak up anyway. Don't know the woman personally (met her in the Jacksonville FL airport once back in the 90's and she was very gracious although she was in a hurry), but I am impressed. I am always impressed with powerful women who exercise their power, even though it seems such women always become labeled as bitchy. I've never really figured out why a powerful woman who openly chooses to flex her muscles earns that label, when men who do the same thing are admired as forces to be reckoned with. It's really annoying.

[Greg's GL]

^^^^ rhinohide - ICAM. That's exactly my opinion of the piece.

Um. I never lectured anyone or resorted to calling them "pathetic". I was just curious as to other's perspectives, that's all. I guess next time I'll know to ask better of some people.

[Shakur]

Thank you rhinohide for posting the whole answer.

I understand that Kim Zimmer's "abrasiveness" isn't appreciated by a lot of people, but in this case I think many of the criticisms of her are unnecessary.

She was asked a question, and responded in an honest, heartfelt way wishing her former co-workers well. From what I've seen she got along with RPG very well, and her and BE seemed to have a respectful working relationship as well.

[R Sinclair]

Did I say you would lecture me? I was called pathetic by someone else because I "HATE" Amanda Beall and don't even know her, so I just simply put a disclaimer saying that I didn't say I HATE Kim Zimmer as Sylph said I did. That's all.

Damn.

[R Sinclair]

Am I the only one who has never seen this double standard in effect? I've seen both men and women who are aggressive/assertive/abrasive be called every unflattering name in the book as well as be called every complimentary name in the book. I think it's all in how you present yourself and how others receive you. On this board, people think I'm mean and condescending and a dickhead. On this board people think I'm cogent and articulate. It's all in how we absorb what others give us.