Ryan's Hope

This show never caught on and I'll never know why. The writing was crisp and witty. THe cast was excellent and it was only 30 minutes long. Their half hour has been replaced by news which to me shows the lack of interest in keeping daytime television especially dramas like Ryan's Hope on the air. Claire Labine who lives in Brooklyn, New york was one of the major writers of this show. I don't recall it ever being outrageous but it reminded me of the British soaps where it was only 30 minutes long and there was a bar. Helen Gallagher played the matriarch and she is still a fabulous actress who has done television, stage, and films as well. Other cast members were Nancy Addison who passed away so young and Ilene Kristen now on One Life to Live. The show is gone but not forgotten in my opinion. It was one of those shows that should have gone on forever as well but I guess ABC thought it was expendable. Too bad, people out there would have enjoyed a nice written show like this. Since they were set in NEw York (big cities as settings don't fair well on soaps except Bold and the Beautiful), they also went out on the streets of the city to shoot. It was great to see.

I was at this site some weeks ago and either missed this page for RH or it is new. I am delighted to have found so much info. both on the cast and the story line. RH was being aired on Soapnet (89) on cable, and then out of the blue they redid the schedule which was to exclude that great show. It now airs one day (sun.) from 6;30am to 7;00 it comes to 1 hr. of watching. I have read so much lately all over the net, wherever soaps are discussed, as to how much shows like this are missed. AW was pulled completely. I think that the nostalgia for saner time in our history is a big part of why this show is now getting so much attention. It would be great if it were put out on DVD and that way the really avid viewer can just purchase it. Well that was my thought and thanks for letting me express it. imm

Ryan's Hope is a true classic. There are many fine men on the show like Jack, Pat, Frank and Bucky but I love the women on this show.

Helen Gallagher plays loving matriarch, Maeve Ryan. She is sometimes blind to the faults of her grown children but is always there to support them and offers her profound wisdom.

Mary Ryan Fennelli, first played by Kate Mulgrew, is a self-righteous know-it-all but she is also a fiercely loyal wife, daughter and sister.

Jill Coleridge (Nancy Addison) is a brilliant lawyer who was a true liberated woman of the 1970's. Jill is sometimes a little too independent for her own good.

Dr. Faith Coleridge started out as a clingy daddy's girls when played by Faith Catlin but when Catherine Hicks took over the role Faith blossomed into a stronger, smarter yet still sensitive woman.

Delia Reid Ryan Ryan is the shows villain. Delia is highly manipulative and selfish. She simply refuses to deal with reality and has never shown the slightest remorse for what she does. Ilene Kristen plays the Delia you love to hate.

Rae Woodard (Louise Shaffer) is a woman who will use her power and money to get what she wants.

All the characters on Ryan's Hope are very well drawn and much more interesting than what you will find on today's soaps.

Ryan's Hope broke new ground in the daytime drama genre when it debuted in July, 1975. Centered around an Irish-Catholic family living in the Riverside section of New York City, this half-hour soap opera integrated character-driven storylines with intelligent dialogue, a grounded, reality-based philosophy, and one of the most talented casts ever to appear on daytime TV. While it never garnered blockbuster ratings during its all too brief 13 year run, it was showered with well deserved praise from critics and fans alike. It received numerous Emmy awards including two awards for best daytime drama, in 1977 and 1979. Thankfully, the show is now being re-run in its entirety on a soap-opera cable network.

Like Rosie,I never forgave "Loving","The City",and "Port Charles" for taking over that time slot.Being Irish,I'd cry my eyes out each time Ms.Gallagher sang "Danny Boy".The final episode was hard to get thru.I think I cried the entire show. I sometimes wonder if "OLTL"s' "Roxie",is actually Deliah,still looking for love.At least,to it's credit,"RH",never stooped to time travel,vampires,clones,etc.They kept it pretty real. When my daghters were born,I wanted to name them either Deliah,Maeve,or Siobahn,but my Italian ex husband wouldn't let me.Now,all 5 of my grandkids have the red hair,and the map of Ireland all over their faces! There will NEVER be a soap quite like "Ryans' Hope". (God bless you in Heaven,to MY Da!)