LINDA DANO'S JAN. 21, 1997 NBC.COM CHAT
Chat © (copyright) NBC.
[Edited here only to correct a few typos; I may have missed a few. -Barb]
NBC HOST: Good evening! Thank you for joining us.
Our chat with LINDA DANO of "Another World" will begin in a few
minutes. Feel free to submit your questions now!
NBCHost:
BIOGRAPHY
Before we begin this chat, here are a few
background notes on our guest:
NBCHost:
LINDA DANO
Linda Dano, the 1993 Daytime Emmy Award winner as Outstanding Lead
Actress, joined the cast of "Another World" in 1982. Beside her numerous
television and film credits, Dano has been quite busy with other activities.
NBCHost:
For six years she co-hosted the talk show
"Attitudes" on Lifetime Network. In 1984,
she "co-authored" a Harlequin Romance
novel, "Dreamweaver," with her alter-ego,
Felicia Gallant.
NBCHost:
Dano maintains a fashion-consulting
business, Strictly Personal, and has
created and designed a
clothing-accessories line for QVC. Dano’s
next QVC Fashion Accessory Show
called Looking Great will be on Friday,
February 7.
NBCHost:
In addition, her new book, "Looking Great - It Doesn’t Have to Hurt, on
fashion and style will be released March 31, nation wide by Putnam/Berkley.
NBCHost:
Also be sure to watch Dano as she guest stars on "Homicide" on Friday, February
14. She will be playing a marriage counselor in an episode entitled,
"Valentine’s Day."
NBCHost:
She and her husband, advertising executive Frank Attardi, who has been
seen in a recurring role as Beau Wexler on "Another World," have been married 14
years.
NBCHost:
Finally, Dano would like you to check out her home page at:
http://www.nashville.com/~lindadano/dano.html.
Remember to check out her official NBC page at: http://www.nbc.com/aw/biodano.html.
NBCHost:
Welcome, Linda Dano to our chat this evening. We're all very excited for this
chat.
Host LindaDano:
: I am mostly here to tell the fans that David
Forsyth sends his hello's.
NBCHost:
Hi Linda, you are my favorite actress on
tv. Is there a possiblity you will come to
Orlando,Fl on your book tour. I know you
will draw a big crowd.
Ann Daytona Beach, Fl
Host LindaDano:
:
Maybe. I wish I could tell you when and
where I'll be but the book publisher has
not yet given me that schedule. I will
probably be in Florida, but it may not be in
Orlando, maybe you could look up Frank
but he is still on that 14th hole.
NBCHost:
Laura, Louisville_ Can you imagine leaving
Another World, and if so, what could lure
you away?
Host LindaDano:
:
If Stephen Bocho called I am afraid I
would have to leave, or Tom Fontana of
Homicide.
Jennifer Helfrich from Shrewsbury,
Pennsylvania
In taping daily soaps, how many weeks
out of the year do you have to work - in
other words how many weeks can you
take off in a year for vacations, etc. ???
Host LindaDano:
:
Because I have been there for so long,
have 6 weeks of vacation. But I also have
weeeks that ci could take for other work.
If you added them all up, I could be gone
from the show for about 3 months. Most
of us only take 2 weeks of vacation.
NBCHost:
Lana, TN: HI Linda! I'm a big fan of the
John and
Felicia romance. I just wanted to ask if
your prefer doing your love scenes with
David with his beard,
mustache or clean-shaven? He's gorgeous
either way!
Host LindaDano:
:
I personally Love David with a beard and
mustache which is strange because I don't
know if I would like Frank in that. I don't
know, he is so sexy in that beard and
mustache.
NBCHost:
Kate DiMayo - Chehalis, WA
Good evening Linda and welcome to my
computer. I have watched AW since
it began in 1964. I love watching John and
Felicia together. Do you think they will stay together or is John
going to return to Sharlene?
Host LindaDano:
:
I don't really know. You know it was so rocky when they first put us together so
many of you hated it and then some of you started to like it and now I guesss we sort
of have been accepted as a couple.
NBCHost:
Hey Linda! How are you? I was just wondering how you like playing "Felicia"?
Also, have you ever been to Vancouver, BC before? If not, we would love for you to come. Sheila-Vancouver, BC, Canada
Host LindaDano:
:
Please invite me. I was there last year I filmed the movie with Patty Duke on
Lifetime. And I loved it. PLease invite me
and I will come again. Get someone to pay
me and I'll be there.
NBCHost:
Another question I wonder about is: Is it
hard to remember all those
lines everyday? And do the directors let
you ad lib some or must you
stay to the script? Also who is one of the
funniest people to work with?
Host LindaDano:
:
The lines are not really hard when you
have played a character as long as I have.
I suppose that there is some ad libbing, but
not much. I pretty much stick to the script.
There are many funny people at AW. I
suppose that is why we all like each other
so much. Stephen, Brett, Jackee were
probably the funniest and let's not forget
Cecile. We had alot of laughs.
NBCHost:
Hi, Linda, this is Vanessa from
Baltimore,Maryland. I love your work.
How do you feel about the show not going
thru with the Marshall and Felicia
storyline? I was disappointed. Will you be
at the luncheon?
Host LindaDano:
:
Yes I will be at the luncheon. I was just in
Balitmore doing Homicide. I had so much
fun. What a beautiful city you have. The
show will air on Feb. 14. Thank you for
liking my work.
Host LindaDano:
: Marshall -- I was very
disapponted that AW didn't do the
Marshall Felicia storyline. He was brought
on to work with me to do a white and
black story line. AW and P&G dropped
out they didn't explain it to you or me or
Randy Brooks. I'm sorry.
NBCHost:
Just love you!! your outfits are great. Do
you get to pick them out? do you get to
keep them? What is going on with Jena,
you long lost daughter? Connie, Cincinnati
Ohio
Host LindaDano:
:
The clothes are great. Yeah I get to
choose the things that are bought for me.
Our costume designer, Shawn is brilliant. I
get to borrow them and if they get used
enough I even get to take them home and
keep them. Jenna
Host LindaDano:
:
funny you should mention Jenna. I spent all
day talking about Jenna. Because Lorna is
going to hide from Cindy and go to see
Jenna. I should probably not say this. Alla
Korot is terrific, living in LA, working and
I'll be sure to tell her you asked about her.
NBCHost:
Do you think that with the new writing
team on board that they would
bring some old characters back like they
did with Amanda. I would love
to see Jena (Anna H.) and Dean back on
board as well as Mitch. Did
Felica ever divorce him?
Host LindaDano:
:
Yes, I did divorce Mitch, but what does
that mean in daytime. People come back
that are dead. Anything is possible. I don't
know about Jenna and Dean. I was asked
that today because I was talking about
her. AT this point I have no idea and you
know I would tell you if I knew.
NBCHost:
Linda you are so talented, which one of
your accomplishments do you enjoy the
most?
Host LindaDano:
:
Thank you. I like alot of things. I guess I
like the acting best. I really do love to act.
But I have to tell you I had a great time
writing this book. It was fun to sit down
and talk and put it on paper and a thrill to
see the finished copy.
Host LindaDano:
:I want to do another
book and that is in the works. I love being
a talk show host. I am always asked if I
am going to do it again. I don't know, it
was alot of work. Right now I am focusing
on fashion and writing and the acting.
NBCHost:
My name is Rosh (Canadian) from Saudi
Arabia - Riyadh....
Keep up the good work on the show
My question is : who from the show do
you consider as a closest friend ?
Host LindaDano:
:
Stephen Schnetzer. Cass. But I have many
friends. I suppose that is why I am so sad
that Robin Christopher and John Bolger
are leaving, they have become close
friends of mine. Charles Keating and Anna
Stuart are also great pals. As is David and
Anna Holbrook.
NBCHost:
Do you know how to get a copy of
Dreamweaver ? I have tried many times
but it is now out of print. Susan Saint John
New Brunswick Canada
Host LindaDano:
:
I really don't. I have just been told there
are places that specialize in out of print
books which you migh try looking up. Or
even calling Harlequin Romances in
Canada, I don't know if they will have any
but maybe they could tell you who would.
Host LindaDano:
:
And if all that fails there is my new book called
Looking Great, it doesn't have to hurt.
And find me somewhere on the book tour
and I'll autograph it.
NBCHost:
From Tom in NYC: Linda, you really are
a pleasure to watch, and you
seem to nail every scene. What
preparation helps you to get this kind
of consistency in your work?
Host LindaDano:
:
Bless you, thank you. I try to come from a
place of reality. I try to really understand
what I'm feeling in a scene. I'm more
intetersted in the emotions then I am the
words. I always ask myself before I start
every scene what would I really feel if this
were really happening to me and then I do
the scene.
NBCHost:
As an AW fan for over 15 years, it drives
me crazy when they don't keep the
characters consistant. Does it bother you,
as an actress that they seemed to have
forgotten Jenna or that you never finished
the book on Frankie? -Margo, Audubon,
NJ
Host LindaDano:
:
Oh boy. God, me too, me too, me too, me
too. Makes me crazy. I hate the
inconsistency. It's a battle that goes on
everyday.
Host LindaDano:
: and you as viewers and
if you're vocal about it in print or on the
computer, you can let them know that they
need to have closure in so many areas. It's
not good enough to change writers and
have the new writers just drop everything.
You have to finish it it's like someone
having a book and they rip out some of the
chapters and you are supposed to accept
that. It is hard to watch and makes me
very insane.
NBCHost:
Angie Forrest,Canada -Is Vicki and
Bobbie Reno going to be killed?
Host LindaDano:
:
Killed?!!! I don't think so!!!!!! Why? I
don't know. They're very popular and very
important in the show. No. They're not
going anywhere.
NBCHost:
If Felica isn't going to marry John Hudson
do you think that TPTB would ever pair
you up with Cass?
Irene Limburg, Pictou, Nova Scotia
P.S. I really like your Web Page. Great
way to keep incontact with your
fans :)
Host LindaDano:
:
Great. Credit goes to Barbara Schroeder
who has done the most magnificent home
page for me. She knows I love her for it
and let me say it again, thank you Barbara.
I think that is a possiblity of Felicia and
Cass there is always that dance that he
and I do. Weare such great friends that
could happen. If that is something
youwould like, you should let AW know
that.
NBCHost:
Linda, can you give me some hints to what
Felicia will be doing in the future? Any
new, exciting storylines? Sam Boise ID
Host LindaDano:
:
Wish I could. I wanted Lucas to come
back and I really rallied for it and I don't
think it's going to happen. So if you'd like
that you could help me out here and start a
campaign. He's willing.
NBCHost:
I am a student from the University of
Washington. I just wanted to ask you how
you got into acting and what a college
freshman should go about doing so that he
can possibly have a career in acting?
Host LindaDano:
:
The most important thing I think for being a
good actor is having a real education. The
more you know the more you can play.
Study classes in psychology, and history
english, learn about the world you live in.
Study people and get really in touch with
your feelings and the freedom of
thosefeelings. And believe me, you'll be
one hell of an actor.
NBCHost:
Liz-South Carolina DOOL holds a
celebrity softball game here in the summer.
Is there ever a chance that the cast from
AW would ever do that?
Host LindaDano:
:
I think they do baseball games in New
York and NJ. You know I think you have
to call Mindi Schulman or write to her.
She's the AW fan club pres. and she
knows everything that is going on with all
of us and she has a homepage.
Host LindaDano:
:
I have a question for you. How do you
like the new show on NBC -- Sunset
Beach. What do you think?
NBCHost:
Aaron K. Thompson (New Brunswick -
Canada) Linda...One of my favorite
episodes was the one in which Crystal
Gayle guest starred (many years ago) Do
you keep in touch with her? It seems like
you two were pretty good friends!
Host LindaDano:
:
We did strike a very nice friendship and
for a while yeah, we kept in touch, and I
don't know, like all things you get busy
and time goes by and I know if she ever
came to town or if I went down to where
she lives in the south we would get
together and have dinner. She was just
great.
NBCHost:
How do you like being On-line, answering
all these quetions? It seems like you are
having a lot of fun!
Michael from Detroit, MI
Host LindaDano:
:
I am!!! I like this for some strange reason.
I always have a good time talking to all of
you. And I get an idea of what you like
and you sort of get the idea of what I like
and it's fun it's like we're chatting, so I like
that!!!
Host LindaDano:
:
I have a question for you. How do you
like the new show on NBC -- Sunset
Beach. What do you think?
NBCHost:
Sherry in Virginia, Linda I have been a fan
of yours for years. I always admired you
for your distinctive style. You seem to be
your own woman. Was this something you
learned along the way or taught to you by
your parents. Much luck always.
Host LindaDano:
:
Thank you. I learned alot of my style from
my mother and through the years I have
developed my own look and my own
feelings about myself what I feel the best
in, what look really says who I am. It's a
look process And it's been fun finding me.
And it's fun to help other's find them. I
suppose that is why I like dressing people
and why I wrote the book and trying to
take the terror out of looking great
NBCHost:
Laura-Louisville---Linda, you play both
ends so well, do you prefer the funny
scenes or the teary dramatic scenes?
Host LindaDano:
:
That's hard to answer because I love them
both and I love the extremes. I like being
really goofy and I love crying. I believe in
life that people are both. I am. I am very
goofy in real life and I cry all the time.
NBCHost:
Hi, Linda! Do you have influence with the
writers regarding your storyline? Can the
fans influence the writers at all by letting
them know about favorite characters or
storylines? Kathy, OH
Host LindaDano:
:
You absolutely can influence story line.
You have more power than you know. I
don't know how much influence the actors
have. I have gone in and asked for a story
only once and it didn't happen so so much
for my input. But you really do. They
listen.
Host LindaDano:
:
They are afraid of you. They want to make
you happy. They want you to watch. So if
you want John and Felicia to stay together
that's waht will happen. If you want John
and Sharlene back together that is what
will happen. If you want Felicia to be with
Lucas, that will happen.
NBCHost:
Do you ever make guest appearances in
Seattle, WA or Portland, OR. I
live halfway between the two and would
love to go to see AW actresses and
actors. However, it does seem that most
of the guest appearances are
east coast.
Host LindaDano:
:
I'll be on a book tour starting March 31, and Boy I'll bet I'll be in Seattle or close to
it. I am sure I'll be in that part of the world. Check my homepage closer to March and I'll have the schedule on there of where I
will be. And I would love to meet you.
NBCHost:
Hi, Linda! Are you and Anna Holbrook (Sharlene) having fun with your
new "relationship"? Also, do you miss working with Alice Barrett (Frankie)?
Jen in North Dakota
Host LindaDano:
: WE all miss Alice. That was very hard to live through, her death and the aftermath of
that, it really felt empty. I love Anna Holbrook. WE have had a "mixed"
reaction to our latest storyline development.
Host LindaDano:
: It is a tad out of character for both of us that I am now her therapist, but that is ending, we have been
told and the struggle between Sharlene and Felicia has always been fun to play.
NBCHost:
Shauna, Montana
Will you ever do another talk show? I
really liked attitudes!
Host LindaDano:
:
I liked it too. It was great fun. And I don't
know if I'll ever do anothe rone. I love the
Rosie O'Donnel Show and I love the kind
of show it is and if I was ever going to do
a talk show again, it would be one that
was fun, and girlfriendy and a place to
hang out. I don't know if there is room out
there for a show like that. Maybe
NBCHost:
My name is Debbie and this is the first
internet chat that I've ever done. I am a
hairstylist and fashion consultant in
Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I would have
to say you were one of my greatest
influences in the beauty industry. Thank
you. d9999@planet.
Host LindaDano:
:
What a nice thing to say. Thank you. And
I love that this is your first internet chat.
Your light years ahead of me. I hope that if
I ever get to Edmonton you'll come and
say hello.
NBCHost:
Do you ever go online and read the AW bulletin boards. I read one every
evening. Do you, the cast,
writers, or TPTB read and pay attention to them. Is this a good way of
communication or is snail
mail still the best way to get one's views across to AW?
Host LindaDano:
:
I think you have to do everything. But I know our EP goes on line, Charlotte
Savitz. I don't know if
TPTB at NBC and P&G are on-line. Alot of the actors go on-line. But I think
you have to do
everything. Just to cover yourself.
NBCHost:
Hi there, from Jeffrey Gibson in Mobile, Alabama
I have watched the show since I was 11... If you could pick one of the
men on the show for your character to have an affair with, who would
you pick???
Host LindaDano:
:
Wow that is an interesting question because I love working with David. Charles
and I have been
together before so I can't say him, although I adored working with him. I
would have said Grayson,
but he's left the show. I don't know. Who would you think?
NBCHost:
I love the show Homicide and can't wait to see you. What kind of character
will you be playing? --
Margo from Audubon, NJ
Host LindaDano:
:
I play a therapist/marriage counselor. I have 2 scenes. One is with Andre
Braugher and then a
second scene with him and his wife in the show who happens to be his real
life wife. Her name is
Ami Brabson. They were superb and lovely nice people. We had a great time.
NBCHost:
Hi...My name is Megan Hughes...from Lincroft, NJ...I'm 11 yrs old...I love
watching your
show...and when I'm in school my mom will tape it...but I just wanted to ask
if you really enjoy what
you do?...and do you really write romance novels?..Thank you :)
Host LindaDano:
:
Megan, I really do enjoy what I do. It has many, many rewards. One of them is
getting this note from you. I had some input in writing a romance novel called Dreamweaver, but
my new book even though it's not romance is a book that I wrote.
NBCHost:
What is your most embarrassing memory on the set of "Another World"?
Tony Kane Gettysburg , PA
Host LindaDano:
:
I don't know. That's hard I have been there so long, I am sure there's been
several. Probably the
day I took one of the side slates down. There was another time that I fell
down a flight of stairs and I
looked like big bird splattered on the floor.
Host LindaDano:
:
Probably the most embarrasing moment, and I have never said this was many
eyars ago in a scene
with Charles Keating we could not remember the lines. And since I really
learned the lines just
before I tape them I thought oh boy, I am going to get into such trouble.
Neither of us could learn
them. We spent the entire lunch time learning them. That was the most
embarrassing moment.
NBCHost:
For those of us who can't get QVC, do you think you'll have a catalog out of
your fashions and
accessories?
Thanks.
Host LindaDano:
:
How sweet. I've just been told that you can go on-line to iQVC.com and order
and see all of my
stuff on 2/7. I will be on QVC on 2/7 at 9 PM and then back again all day on
March 10. Let me
know if that works. Drop me a note on my home page.
NBCHost:
I've just recently begun to watch the show, and am surprised that i've gotten
hooked!!
How many hours a day do you have to work, what's the hardest part about your
job??
Nicole Wesely, North Dakota
Host LindaDano:
:
Getting up at 5:30 in the morning. The day varys in hours. Today I finished at 8:15 tonight. But I
didn't go in until 11:30. Yesterday I got up at 5:30 AM and got home at 9:00 last night. But other
days I can be done at 11 in the morning. It depends I don't work every day. It is a great job!!!!
NBCHost:
Do you find it difficult to "adapt" when a character is re-cast?
Host LindaDano:
:
We just pulled up iQVC and it works. You put search, you put Linda Dano and
you get picture and
description. YOu can get stuff from my last sale. Right now. What are you
going to buy?
Host LindaDano:
:
Yeah, there is always that getting to know them accepting them, trying very
hard not to expect a new
person to do what the other peroson who did the role what they did. But most
actors are so great
and so willing that it just flows along and it works. I think you guys have a
harder time than I do.
NBCHost:
Mehrr from Yor PA- Linda, I love you! A lot of supernatural things have been
happening
on AW over the years. Do you believe in such things?
Host LindaDano:
:
Yes. I do. Maybe not trips to Heaven and Back, but I believe in the
possiblity of spirits and ESP
and just stuff. I don't quite know what I believe but I think all things are
possible. I even think I have
maybe a spirit in my house in CT.
NBCHost:
Shelly, Elysburg, PA: Linda, I don't have a question. Just a thank you for
all those great scenes with
Wallingford, yourself and Cass. I remember after the show, you and Stephen
did a small talk about
Wally. Thanks for the great acting, and great memories
Host LindaDano:
:
He was pretty special wasn't he. Still missed, still loved. The show for me
never has quite been the
same without him.
Host LindaDano:
:
I will be in LA for the Soap Opera Digest awards. I will give you a scoop. I
have now been hired by
Sopa Opera Digest to write a monthly column on Style. So I am going out to CA
to interview and
critque and talk to and then report back to all of you on
(Soap Opera Digest) (Sorry typo from typist.....).
NBCHost:
Thank you, Linda, for an excellent chat session. Here is the last question
for the evening.
NBCHost:
Barb again. ;) Is it true that your knees buckled the first time you had a
kissing scene with John
Aprea? If so, I can't say I blame you! ---- Erin, NJ: How is John Aprea? I
read that he shooting an
independent film right now.
Host LindaDano:
:
Yes, it's absolutely true. As embarrased as I am. My knees buckled when I
kissed him. He is so
handsome, so wonderful. He is in CA doing an Independent film. I was hoping I
could give you
some news that he's returning but so far that isn't happening.
Host LindaDano:
:
I will let him know that you asked about him and I'll tell everyone at work
tomorrow hello from all of
you. Thank you for giving up your evening and spending it with me. It's 10:00
quick, turn on NYPD
Blue. Diane is revealing her secret tonight!!!!!!
Host LindaDano:
:
That's where I am going now. Write to me anytime. I love hearing from you
Thank you again. I love
all of you for your generosity, your friendship and your support. Linda