I’m 68 years old, I’ve watched soap operas my whole life and my favorite was RH, followed by Another World. One thing that I love in my soap is humor and comedy and RH and AW did it so well.
A groundbreaking daytime drama. Many of the topics are still relevant for today. Ilene is a superstar Multi talented actress ,humanitarian and a beautiful soul
There were some other major height differences like tiny Ilene and tall Robin Mattson. There was tiny Faith Catlin and tall Karen Morris-Gowdy, The height difference between Malcolm Groome and tall John Blazo.
I moved to NYC from North Dakota in 1978. Ryan's hope was my 1st background actor job. I was a waiter for Seneca and Kim. What a thrill. That was late 1979.
Ilene said about Mary Carney- "It didn't seem like the right kind of thing." Enjoyed working with Cali Timmins, Jason (Ash) Adams, and Christopher Durham, Roscoe Born. Michael Levin - "could be a real malcontent and had a roaring temper." Sarah Felder -"She could get very unhinged"
I adored Sarah Felder - probably my very favorite character/performer on the show, wish she had stayed on the show - Marg was very good but I loved Sarah the most.
Love that Ilene said positive things about co-stars. Michael Levin" He was great". "Ron (Hale) was incredible". "Faith Catlin was most unusual...very underrated" "Catherine Hicks was spectacular. She was great." "Helen (Gallagher) was amazing. She never had a false moment as an actor." Nancy Addison- "I thought she was a very commanding actress." Tichina Arnold- "A brilliant performer. She was very professional." Kate Mulgrew- "Strong presence. Beautiful." The Pat replacements -Patrick James Clarke was "the only one that was good." Karen Morris-Gowdy - "She's great. She got better and better every day." Louise Shaffer - "Louise is a wonderful actress." Jim Wlcek "a great guy" .Daniel Hugh Kelly - "Daniel Kelly was terrific". "Danny was incredible. He had fire" "Geoffrey (Pierson) was great. Very good actor" "John Sanderford was good." "Earl Hindman was brilliant " Sarah Felder - "Sarah was great and unique. She was talented."
Excited to read the book! Just got it ! For me, There is only one Delia - and that was llene Kristen. Claire’s writing and Eillens acting created that character together. Unbelievable acting - Delia pushing Frank down the stairs, Delia’s CRAZY obsession with Pat , Delia and Rogers chemistry , Delia faking her blindness! So Great!!!!
Loved this interview. Watched RH from cradle to grave. Two observations: Mary Carney was fabulous as Mary. I thought she hit the ground running: back from her delayed honeymoon with Jack, I thought she was bursting with energy and confidence. Kathleen Tolan and Nicolette Goulet clearly stumbled. Nicolette got better, but her first scenes weren't very good. And Tom is correct -- I loved, loved, loved Rose Alaio! She was a skilled actress with an amazing presence. Also loved Sarah Felder (the original Siobhan). I don't know what strings Agnes Nixon pulled, but she should have cut her loss: Loving was a failure. It struggled along for years without a theme or any memorable signature characters.
Looking forward to getting the book soon! I personally loved the show from 1975-83. 1984 and 1985 were mostly awful and then the show got better between 1986-89. I would love it if Sarah Felder were interviewed. Alan Locher interviewed Helen Gallagher (and Malcolm Groome) on his channel recently - she is 97 years old! I wish Tom had included old interview material from Nancy Addison in the book but sounds like only Claire and Paul's old interviews are in it? The book is my birthday present to myself but it won't be sent out until my birthday, the 24th.
Randall Edwards was GREAT as Delia. Robin Mattson is a great actress but she just wasn't right for Delia - Heather and Gina and Hope (on GL) were her roles.
it wouldn't have been possible for Agnes Nixon to have taken "All My Children" off of ABC in 1984 because the network had purchased the show from her in the late 70s.
Loving was GREAT. Just stop trashing Loving! it was terrific! I really hate it when people trash it. There were wonderful characters, actors, and storylines. Ryan's Hope was better, certainly, at least for 1975-83.
I’m 68 years old, I’ve watched soap operas my whole life and my favorite was RH, followed by Another World. One thing that I love in my soap is humor and comedy and RH and AW did it so well.
Loved this. Ilene is spot on in her remembrances of the whole arc of the show including how the cancellation happened.
What a great interview. I have ordered the book. Can't wait to read it. I always loved RH.
Thanks Michael! Tom and Ilene for sharing your stories!
YOU BOTH ROCK!!!
Thanks for the great interview. Ilene Kristen seems like a great person and looks wonderful. Looking forward to reading the book.
A groundbreaking daytime drama. Many of the topics are still relevant for today. Ilene is a superstar Multi talented actress ,humanitarian and a beautiful soul
Thanks Tom for mentioning my post about why "Loving" was a debacle on ABC's part from our Facebook group!
What a great interview! Love you Ilene Kristen! Can't wait for the book!
This was wonderful, thank you.
There were some other major height differences like tiny Ilene and tall Robin Mattson. There was tiny Faith Catlin and tall Karen Morris-Gowdy, The height difference between Malcolm Groome and tall John Blazo.
I moved to NYC from North Dakota in 1978. Ryan's hope was my 1st background actor job. I was a waiter for Seneca and Kim. What a thrill. That was late 1979.
Ilene said about Mary Carney- "It didn't seem like the right kind of thing." Enjoyed working with Cali Timmins, Jason (Ash) Adams, and Christopher Durham, Roscoe Born. Michael Levin - "could be a real malcontent and had a roaring temper." Sarah Felder -"She could get very unhinged"
I adored Sarah Felder - probably my very favorite character/performer on the show, wish she had stayed on the show - Marg was very good but I loved Sarah the most.
Rae, Louise Shaffer, one of my favorite actresses ever.
Miss Ilene on my TV screen
I worshiped Mary for her confidence and loyalty to her family. She was good girl who fell for a bad boy.
I respected Maeve and Johnny they were sensational ❤ Delia you were outrageous and magnificent
Love that Ilene said positive things about co-stars. Michael Levin" He was great". "Ron (Hale) was incredible". "Faith Catlin was most unusual...very underrated" "Catherine Hicks was spectacular. She was great." "Helen (Gallagher) was amazing. She never had a false moment as an actor." Nancy Addison- "I thought she was a very commanding actress." Tichina Arnold- "A brilliant performer. She was very professional." Kate Mulgrew- "Strong presence. Beautiful." The Pat replacements -Patrick James Clarke was "the only one that was good." Karen Morris-Gowdy - "She's great. She got better and better every day." Louise Shaffer - "Louise is a wonderful actress." Jim Wlcek "a great guy" .Daniel Hugh Kelly - "Daniel Kelly was terrific". "Danny was incredible. He had fire" "Geoffrey (Pierson) was great. Very good actor" "John Sanderford was good." "Earl Hindman was brilliant " Sarah Felder - "Sarah was great and unique. She was talented."
When the show debuted in 1975, the opening sequence featured the entire Ryan family, but changed after the recasts begen.
Excited to read the book! Just got it ! For me, There is only
one Delia - and that was llene Kristen. Claire’s writing and Eillens acting created that
character together.
Unbelievable acting - Delia pushing Frank down the stairs,
Delia’s CRAZY obsession with Pat , Delia and Rogers chemistry , Delia faking her
blindness! So Great!!!!
I love Ryan's hope...
Dakota was wild 😂and Nancy Don was really interesting
Loved this interview. Watched RH from cradle to grave. Two observations: Mary Carney was fabulous as Mary. I thought she hit the ground running: back from her delayed honeymoon with Jack, I thought she was bursting with energy and confidence. Kathleen Tolan and Nicolette Goulet clearly stumbled. Nicolette got better, but her first scenes weren't very good. And Tom is correct -- I loved, loved, loved Rose Alaio! She was a skilled actress with an amazing presence. Also loved Sarah Felder (the original Siobhan). I don't know what strings Agnes Nixon pulled, but she should have cut her loss: Loving was a failure. It struggled along for years without a theme or any memorable signature characters.
Cant wait to buy the book!
Michael Levin was nominated 3 years in a row. Nancy addison was nominated twice (1977 and 1979). The best Frank: Daniel Hugh-Kelly.
I wonder if anyone still has the original bible of "Ryan's Hope"?
Looking forward to getting the book soon! I personally loved the show from 1975-83. 1984 and 1985 were mostly awful and then the show got better between 1986-89. I would love it if Sarah Felder were interviewed. Alan Locher interviewed Helen Gallagher (and Malcolm Groome) on his channel recently - she is 97 years old! I wish Tom had included old interview material from Nancy Addison in the book but sounds like only Claire and Paul's old interviews are in it? The book is my birthday present to myself but it won't be sent out until my birthday, the 24th.
I also watched Texas, there were many soaps replacing one another in 3pm slots.
GH came later for me. Long after the Luke Laura craze
Ryan’s Hope and Another World were the thinking viewer’s soaps. They operated on a more thoughtful probing level than the others.
Randall Edwards was GREAT as Delia. Robin Mattson is a great actress but she just wasn't right for Delia - Heather and Gina and Hope (on GL) were her roles.
it wouldn't have been possible for Agnes Nixon to have taken "All My Children" off of ABC in 1984 because the network had purchased the show from her in the late 70s.
Loving was GREAT. Just stop trashing Loving! it was terrific! I really hate it when people trash it. There were wonderful characters, actors, and storylines. Ryan's Hope was better, certainly, at least for 1975-83.
Agnes Nixon conspired against Ryan’s Hope in order for Loving to prosper. Of course we resent that show.
But glitz and glamour wasn't what Ryan's Hope had been about. That's why too much of the Kirklands at the expense of the Ryans was problematic.
The only bad thing about Ryan’s Hope was the Delia character. I found her to be incredibly annoying- like nails scrapping across a blackboard.