All My Children’s Ricky Paull Goldin, has seen much change in the daytime landscape in the past several weeks. First, his current soap “AMC” is heading west, and that move as reported, sent shockwaves throughout the industry as recently as this week, where the ABC soap has cut more of its current cast. (Including, as had been reported, Goldin’s long time pal, Beth Ehlers).  Second, Guiding Light, Goldin’s previous soap was sent to soap heaven a week and half ago, a very sad day for the popular soap star.

A few weeks back, On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Ricky Paull at the Daytime Emmys here in Los Angeles for a “quickie” interview.  And while we h

ave delayed posting it till now, its relevance and Ricky’s take on the latest happenings in Pine Valley and the soap world is always insightful.  As for Goldin himself, he is one of my all-time favorite interviewees! And yes, we do discuss if he will be joining the cast of “AMC” when it heads to Los Angeles.

Here’s…. Ricky!

Listen to the audio:

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MICHAEL:

At the Daytime Emmys you were part of the fashion show segment with your on-screen acting partner, Chrishell Stause (Amanda, “AMC”).  She wore a bikini and showed off quite the body, and you wore a classic tux.  How was that up there? Was it odd doing the moves?

RICKY PAULL:

I don’t know what I got myself into.  There was no escape hatch because I made Chrishell Stause work out all month to look like that. (He laughs)

MICHAEL:

And what is your idea of working out?  I believe you and Beth Ehlers (Taylor) told me this on the red carpet at the 2008 Daytime Emmys, but I wanted to check if it is still the same?
(Laughs)

RICKY PAULL:

My idea of working out is going to the gym; hit the steams, have some espresso (as it gets your heart rate up) and there you have it.  That is the European work out.

MICHAEL:

So, All My Children is heading west in a few months.  What can you tell me about your moving with it and continuing with the show as Jake?

RICKY PAULL:

I can say that I love this show, and we have a few logistics to work out, and I hope they make it possible for me to stay.

MICHAEL:

When you heard the news that “AMC” was heading west, what was the reaction from you and your cast mates?

RICKY PAULL:

We were shocked!  I was more shocked for everyone else’s feelings around me.  I am used to change.  All of us in this business have a bit of the gypsy in us.
I mean honestly, what show can you get nowadays, in this life, and stay on one show anyway?  And by the way, if I were to quit the show I would have had to get on a plane to LA to get another job.  So really, c’mon!  I feel as long as you are shooting in New York you are getting away with something.  You are pulling
a fast one, because you get to be in Manhattan, one of the best and most expensive cities in the world, and doing a show. There are a lot of new shows coming to town.  Ugly Betty moved there last year, and I believe there happens to be ten shows that shoot in New York now.  It just happens that All My Children is not going to be one of them now.

MICHAEL:

Your storyline with Chrishell Stause, as Jake and Amanda, has really had some legs to it.  I kept thinking they would not keep this couple going.  And many in soap land thought they would re-team you with Beth Ehlers (Taylor) who along with you, were part of the super-couple, Gus and Harley on Guiding Light. What are your thoughts on how this turned out?

RICKY PAULL:

You know, I have to hand it to “AMC”; they did not just do that.  They toyed with it in the beginning and you never knew what could happen, but eventually, Beth has been great with Michael Knight (Tad) and Chrishell and I have something that is great, and she is terrific. As Liza Minnelli would say, “She is terrific, really terrific.” We do have chemistry, and she is one of my best friends now.  I lucked out and we will see what happens.  She is not going to stay on the show, not because of this move, but because her contract is up in January.  Now I don’t know if she will really leave, but if she does, I will really miss her.  It’s hard to have that lightning strike, but we have something really cooking.  It’s been great, and when you are thrust into the forefront you know you are lucky, and you know you have been blessed!

MICHAEL:

Ricky tweeted the following on September 18th the airdate of the last episode of Guiding Light; “ Good night GL. I will miss you. Today was a very strange day. Guiding light is gone.
I am proud to have been part of TV history & such a wonderfully talented cast.  I just watched the last episode of GUIDING LIGHT as I’m running
out the door to ALL MY KIDS.  I had to sit down and take a deep breath.” How was it for you seeing the cast of Guiding Light and watching them have to say goodbye at the Daytime Emmys?  You were a treasured member of that cast for years!

RICKY PAULL:

It’s terribly sad seeing the whole cast on stage saying goodbye.  I just want my friends to work on one hand, and I am spiritual about it on the other.  Everything has a beginning, a middle and end, and when you have a symphony and there is no crescendo…. and if you are having sex and you don’t have a huge finish…. you have to have a beginning middle and an end.  It’s a stupid way to say it, but you know what I mean.

MICHAEL:

Gus Aituro was such a beloved character on Guiding Light, and you were Emmy- nominated for your performance as him.  Of all the soap characters you have played, is Gus closest to your heart?

RICKY PAULL:

Gus is one of my favorite characters of all time and I miss him a lot, and Jake Martin is definitely different.

MICHAEL:

Is “AMC’s” Jake Martin a little more like you in this soap?

RICKY PAULL:

I think so.  I got some things I pull out when you go as fast as we do to make things work. When you are shooting 80 pages a day, and you are shooting 30 pages yourself with your co-stars, of course it can be very challenging.  But, I am always up for the challenge. I think it’s that I have been growing up.  This may sound a bit funny, but I was a late bloomer with my own personality, and I have been doing this a really long time.  So, it’s really about my comfort in my own skin type of thing.  Maybe I am dreaming, but maybe part of that role is in me now, that you see on camera.  I don’t really know.  But I do feel a big difference.

MICHAEL:

Who were you rooting for to win the Outstanding Lead Actor?  Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R) is a good friend of yours and Thorsten Kaye is your celebrated cast mate?

RICKY PAULL:

Here were my thoughts: Christian is my boy and he will probably take it again.  I would like to see Thorsten get a salute.  He really is a good actor and I really did not know this till I came over here, because I really don’t get to watch these other shows.  Thorsten is really good and Shakespearean trained, and a beautiful guy.  He is really deep and no nonsense. I would love to see him get some respect, but he does get some respect with the nomination, but Christian is hard to beat.  He is a wonderful and present actor… and I think it will go to Christian!

MICHAEL:

And in the end the award did go to Christian LeBlanc!  And I agreed he should have won.  So Ricky you have excellent taste in actors and excellent taste in espresso!

For more on All My Children’s move west and the Beth Ehlers situation with the series, check out On-Air On-Soaps coming soon!