James Hyde and Kim Johnston Ulrich Chat from NBC Passions: Produced by NBC and Talk City, Inc. on 4/24/00
NBClive: Welcome to #NBC-Live!
NBClive: Tonight we are chatting with Passions'
NBClive: stars Kim Johnston Ulrich, who plays the
NBClive: conniving Ivy Crane, and James Hyde,
NBClive: who portrays Harmony's resident good guy,
NBClive: Sam Bennett.
NBClive: Both Kim and James are familiar to soap fans.
NBClive: Kim played the role of Diana McCall on
NBClive: "As the World Turns" for over two years;
NBClive: while James has appeared on "Another World "
NBClive: and "As the World Turns".
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NBClive: Thank you.
NBClive: Welcome Kim and James!
James_Hyde: I'd like to say thank you very much for all the support of
the Passions fans. You guys have been really, really great. And thanks
for the interest that you guys have been taken for Ivy and Sam.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I am having a wonderful time on the show and I hope
you are all enjoying watching us. Thanks for your comments and letters.
Samantha_Lynn: Hi, Kim! Hi, James! How are you? You two are really good
actors! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us fans! What is the best
thing about being on Passions? It looks like such a fun show to be on!
What is a typical day like for you on the set?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: The best thing about being on Passions is that it
is a really really fun group of people. It's a really nice cast to work
with.
James_Hyde: Usually it depends if you have to come in in the morning or
the afternoon. If it's in the morning, you get in at 7:15, and then we
dry block first thing in the morning. Dry block means we will just go
through the stuff that we have to do through the morning until 12:30.
Then we work pretty much all day. It's been pretty light lately because
we don't have as many scenes as we used to. Starting the show, we had to
introduce all of the characters so it was a lot of work and now it is
getting a lot better and a lot easier. But we generally work between 8
and 10 hours, if we are in, in a day. Then we go home!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I would have said there are no typical days. Every
day is an adventure!
AdamsAunti: How did you two get your start in acting ??
Kim Johnston Ulrich: I started studying in New York. My husband was an
actor and got me started.
James_Hyde: My first was winning a contest in Miami to read for Aaron
Spelling. I think it was in 1997. I was reading for Sunset Beach.
Samantha_Lynn: Do you watch yourselves on TV and keep up with the show?
If you could play any other character besides your own, who would it be?
James_Hyde: Not all the time. But when there's a big storyline going on
for Sam, I really tend to watch and see how things are going but I
usually keep in touch with the show, even if I'm not working on it at the
time, I'll watch the show as much as I can to keep tabs on everybody. I'd
probably be Julien. He's got the best lines.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I'd be Tabitha because she has fun, too. I love my
part, too! But she gets to be evil and it looks fun. Yes, I fast forward
and watch my parts. Absolutely! I have to see how my hair looks that day.
boo-guest899: Do you keep your wardrobe
James_Hyde: No, thanks. Sam and James are two entirely different people
so I wouldn't want to keep mine. Especially the cop uniform. Pants are a
little too tight.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: No, we don't get to keep it but they let us borrow
stuff. Which is even better.
Crazy_Kay_: What has been you're favorite scene to do so far?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: That's hard! There's been a lot. I'm enjoying
tormenting Eve a great deal--Tracey Ross. I'm enjoying it.
James_Hyde: I've had some good scenes with Kim that I like a lot and
it's only planting seeds for what is going to happen in the future, but
I've really enjoyed those.
passions4ever: Is it fun taping the flashbacks from the '70s when your
characters were together?
James_Hyde: I wish they would last a little longer. The flashbacks tend
to go by a little too quickly.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: At first I was terrified, having to be young Ivy,
20 years ago. Now I just think they are a hoot! I love the wardrobe they
come up with. I laugh every time I see it.
James_Hyde: When I first came down in that outfit with the wig on, I
about left and went home. After I got over the shock, I think it has been
fun!
Lisa-guest: Kim, if you could portray any other character, who would you
pick and why?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Tabitha because she is the only person I'd have
more fun being than Ivy--being evil.
Ms_Maggs215: James - you were really great in the film "Let's Talk About
Sex" (First on your TalkPassions board, and now here...aren't you glad
I'm promoting you!) Which character is easier for you to relate
to...Scott the playboy or Sam the Sweetie?
James_Hyde: A little bit of both. Scott was a character that I could
relate too awhile ago before I was married, but I can relate to Sam now.
I'm relating to Sam now more because I am parallel with him more because
I've been married for 8 years and Sam has been married awhile. I don't
have teenage kids but it's been fun playing Sam.
PrincessSheridan2: Kim, I LOVE your wardrobe...who does it for you?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Our wardrobe department - Julie Engelsman.
James_Hyde: They do a really, really good job under the circumstances
trying to wardrobe 22 principals and all of these extras. They do a
really good job.
ivyandsamforever: James what's your favorite thing about playing Sam?
James_Hyde: I enjoy being a cop. I just wish we would have more cop
things to do. There is not enough crime in Harmony. I'm going to have to
arrest Ivy! Put the cuffs on her!
okdk42: Kim Do you like to play any sports?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Oh, God, does it show? Laughing is my answer! LOL!
No, actually, I don't!. Is shopping a sport?
bev87: What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you while taping
a scene?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Ben Masters. He has done some takes that have made
me lose it.
James_Hyde: There was a time when Grace, who plays my wife on the
show--it was Christmastime I think, when Father Lonigan was doing
something, it wasn't anything big but we had worked so many hours and he
had fallen over or tripped over something and we lost it for over 20
minutes straight. We had tears we were laughing so hard we were crying.
camma-guest: What three words would you use to describe your characters?
James_Hyde: Honest, devoted and conflicted.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Determined, delusional and dastardly
days_diva-guest: Hey guys...if you could pick just one word to describe
each other, what would it be?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Assuming you mean in real life, aromatic is how I
would describe James. He smells fabulous at all times! We were discussing
it in makeup the other day.
James_Hyde: For Kim, I would say charming.
caroline6: What have been your favorite Passions scenes to watch that
don't involve your characters?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Timmy / Tabitha. Those scenes.
James_Hyde: I enjoy the Timmy when he breaks into the super hero
character to rescue Charity. Those are probably my funniest ones. And Ben
getting wiped out with that tray. That was pretty funny.
justineb: If you weren't actors, what would you be?
James_Hyde: I would definitely be a rock star. No doubt about it.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: James is a really good dancer. I didn't know he was
a singer. Unemployable at this point. My only talent!
starryeyed: Are you both going to New York for the Emmys? If so, are you
excited?
James_Hyde: I'm very excited. We are all going, I believe. There's a few
that are not going, but the majority are going. I haven't been back to
New York since I worked on As The World Turns which was over a year ago.
New York is a great city with a lot of energy. It's going to be fun.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I haven't been back there since I did As The World
Turns as well. We are very excited! Very excited! My husband has tickets
for a whole bunch of shows that he is getting.
wanda876: If you could change one thing about your characters what would
it be?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Ivy would be thinner.
James_Hyde: I think just to have Sam be a little more in touch with his
dark side.
curious1a: Having both come from well established soaps, did you find it
hard working for a brand new one without a following?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: It's actually been kind of fun and exciting to
start off with a group of people and develop and see the fan base grow.
That's been fun.
James_Hyde: I think that Passions has created a new audience for soaps,
and I think that's very exciting. I think we've brought a lot of people
that wouldn't watch soaps into this medium. I think its really fun to
watch the numbers grow.
ethan07: Kim, how do you stay so beautiful
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I have a picture in the attic. If you know who
Dorian Gray is... :-) It's all thanks to our hair and makeup department.
James_Hyde: Kim is a very beautiful woman. She doesn't need the hair and
makeup. She stays beautiful. She is very beautiful.
templeofj-guest: Ivy, you are the greatest villain, but my question is
for James. How do you feel about doing love scenes with two women within
the same cast?
James_Hyde: Today is my lucky day! Gosh! I get paid for this! What can
you say to that? It's a lot of fun working with two professionals like
Kim and Dana. It's been a lot of fun.
Karen623: Kim what was the best storyline you like doing?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I am enjoying the pursuit of Sam very much. I wish
it would happen a little more quickly. And I like tormenting Eve, as I
said, to get Sam.
soapdiva22-guest: James, I've noticed your muscles. :) What do you do to
keep in shape?
James_Hyde: Eat Big Macs! Rapidly! Yeah, you get that arm movement
quick!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: He works out all the time!
James_Hyde: I go to the gym probably 2 to 3 times a week and I play a
lot of basketball, which is my favorite sport. So a combination of weight
training and cardio.
chatgirl00-guest: How is being on a soap opera different than being on a
regular TV sitcom?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: We do an hour a day. A sitcom shoots a half hour
and they take a week to rehearse it and they tape and shoot it in one
night, but they rehearse it all week long. Daytime is a lot more fast and
furious. I know they think they are working very hard, but you have all
the rehearsal time, so it's much different, but there are a lot of line
changes and re-writes that go on. Doing half-hour comedy is hard work.
Dying is easy--comedy is hard.
James_Hyde: I've never been on a sitcom.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Sitcoms are also fun because they usually have live
audiences, and that's fun, so that's more like doing theatre. But I
actually love the pace of daytime. I like the fast pace.
LauraKay-guest: Do you guys answer all of your fan mail, in due time, of
course...
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Yeah...what's due time? I can't work my computer!
James_Hyde: I have a lady that does my fan mail for me, and I try to
answer some of my mail that I get on my website at
www.jameshydeonline.com but there are quite a bit of hits and I try to
get to at least some of them during the week. But all of the fan mail
that is written for a head shot, I try to get those out every week. I'm
also going to start my official James Hyde fan club probably in the first
week of May. So look out for that.
KMCG8R: James- Thanks so much for responding to my letter with a pic a
while back! You're great! :) Now for both of you-- Where do you like to
travel and how often do you get a chance to? Kim--You should join the
TalkPassions forum soon! We are anxiously waiting for you there!! You
guys are both great! Keep up the good work!
James_Hyde: Since I have moved to California, my wife and I have
traveled up north right below San Francisco. Basically, I think I really
want to discover California, and any place you go there is going to be a
hit. I haven't discovered past San Francisco yet, and we are going to do
that soon. I'm really into snowboarding now so we went to Mammoth in the
mountains. I love California. I'm really hooked!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I'm trying to join. I'm computer illiterate. I'm
working on that. I promise to get it up soon.
Sue-guest959: is there an address where I can write to and request an
autograph?
James_Hyde: Yes. For James and Kim, you can write the show, which is
4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, California 91604. And we love everyone
to write. We really love that because it is fun to read your fan mail. So
please write!
Holly_1127: Hi James and Kim How are you? What was thew most outrageous
thing that a fan ever done to you?
James_Hyde: I was in New York, on Another World at the time, and did a
fan club luncheon and a gentlemen came up and asked for an autograph and
basically wouldn't leave. After saying some pretty rude things, he was
escorted out. But to be honest, that was probably the only thing that
ever happened as far as that goes. Every other event, the fans have been
really awesome! Really cool!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I don't think I've had anyone be out of line.
Recently I got a letter at home from a fan which flipped me out a bit,
but it wasn't rude or anything. One fan after the first 2 weeks of the
show, wrote that they liked my beautiful legs, but I hadn't worn anything
that showed my legs so I was confused about why he liked them. That was
all.
maajik3: Who is the funnest person on the set?
James_Hyde: I've been having a hoot with everybody! I think everyone has
a funny side to themselves. Each day, one person comes in funnier than
the next. But probably the funniest is Ben.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Yes. Day to day, it's probably Ben. He tries to be
a curmudgeon, but he's not. But he tries hard.
Robocop-PD: Who is your biggest role model and why?
James_Hyde: Probably my wife. She's taught me a lot about a lot of
things in life and I really respect her. So she's probably my biggest
role model.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I have to say his wife is so beautiful and whenever
we are shopping, my husband is always finding dresses for Sue Ling. My
in-laws, Jack and Joy Ulrich, because they have the most generous spirits
of anyone I have met in my life.
Samantha_Lynn: What advice would you have for people who are just
starting in acting?
Kim Johnston Ulrich: Learn how to use a computer!
James-Hyde: Be relentless. Don't take no for an answer, ever. And
believe half of what you hear.
KMCG8R: Besides Passions, what are your favorite TV shows and movies??
Thanks guys!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I love Buffy. I'm a
Sci-Fi fan so Buffy, X-Men and Zena's Warriors.
James_Hyde: My favorite TV show is Will & Grace. And my favorite movies
are probably Blade Runner, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I just saw Keeping the Faith and it was adorable. I
was really impressed.
Shadma_21-guest: Do you ever feel like role models for the kids on the
set, since many of them are just starting out?
James_Hyde: When Jesse Metcalf first started the show, Galen Garing and
myself took Jesse under our wing because he was only 20. So I try to give
Jesse some advice, and I think he's grown a lot since he started the
show. But, yes, I think its very important for us to be a role model in
some form or another.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I have felt like a den mother. And I actually love
it. And I try to set a good example by being cheerful on the set, and
showing them that I like being there because I do, and it's a good job
and I want them to know it.
James_Hyde: I think Kim has also shown to be a great role model as being
a professional. I think that's very important for young people to
know--to be professional. There are a lot of aspects going into that.
ivyandsamforever: Where did Sam and ivy meet?
James_Hyde: The first time I saw Ivy I was lifeguard and I saw her
swimming in the water. Very good swimmer, I might add! And I fell in
love. Love at first sight!
Samantha_Lynn: Do any of you ever play practical jokes on each other on
the set?s
James_Hyde: I played practical jokes on Galen and Dalton all the time.
There's not enough time in the day for that, though.
Kim Johnston Ulrich: I must have, but I don't remember them.
Lush504-guest: When did you both decide you wanted to act on Passions?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: When I got the first audition!
James_Hyde: When I heard about it. I thought it was very exciting to be
on a brand new show and I really wanted to come to California to live. So
I got lucky!
GIJane113: Kim & James.. Have you gotten to see your families that much
since you started Passions?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Not as much as I'd like. Not nearly enough.
James_Hyde: My parents live in Ohio, so given the work schedule that we
have, I try to go back at least once a year and believe me, that's not
enough. So I try to bring my mom out to California.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I met his mom. She was very nice.
HankIsGod-guest: Have either of you ever had a non-Hollywood Job?
James_Hyde: I was in the military for 3 years and I bartended in Hawaii
and I did some modeling. There was life before Hollywood.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Yes, but it's thankfully been years. I was a
nurse's aide in a convalescent hospital when I was young. I worked in a
bank and I did makeup. I sold clothes. I sold all the clothes that James
wears in the 70's flashbacks.
HankIsGod-guest: Who did you admire most in the 20th century?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: That's a big span of time! James Riley, at this
point!
James_Hyde: I would second that!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: For creating Passions.
RbjGrubbs-guest: What do you like to do in the time you spend away from
the show?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I have been working on my money pit of a house. I
like to spend time with my son. I garden. I read.
James_Hyde: I wish there were more hours in the day. But I like to spend
a lot of time with my wife getting away on the weekends. Discovering
California.
kit-kat-guest: Do you guys have a life long dream you want to fill?
James_Hyde: I want to become a father. I'm working on it.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Yes, I have one, but I'd rather not say what it is
right now.
Abercrombie4CHS: Kim- I love your character's snobby and rude attitude.
What characteristic of Ivy do you think is most like you in real life?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I'm snobby and rude! Her sarcasm, truly, is
probably the thing that we share. I just hide mine better.
kit-kat-guest: James, have you been on any other TV shows or movies, etc.
James_Hyde: I was on two other daytime shows, which were As The World
Turns and Another World. And Sex and the City. Movies - Let's Talk About
Sex
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: He has a theme going!
Ethan_Crane-guest: Kim,how has Passions changed your life, if it has?
James_Hyde: She met me! Come on!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: I met James! Absolutely! It's a wonderful ego thing
for an actor to have a job. It's very centering, whenever an actor is
working, so right now, it is giving me a nice center.
templeofj-guest: James, I received a calendar of "hotties" for Christmas,
you just happened to be in it (during your longer hair period). Any
chance Passions will have a calendar coming out next year?
James_Hyde: Actually, they have something of the Harmony Hunks. I don't
foresee me being anything that has to do with that. Not for me. I don't
know about Passions themselves.
TheresaCrane-guest: If you two were to be in a movie, would you like to
play someone similar to your characters on Passions or someone completely
opposite?
James_Hyde: I would love to play someone completely different than me.
We are playing this character every day for a year. Speaking for myself,
I'd like to climb out of that and play someone. I'd like to play a bad
guy!
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: It's always fun to stretch your wings and do a
different role, so yeah, I've played many villains and murderers, etc.,
but I've also played mothers and lawyers so those are fun, too.
HankIsGod-guest: Where do you see yourselves 20 years from now?
James_Hyde: On Passions.
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: If the good Lord's willin' and the creek don't
rise--still here! Right here!
NBCLive: We are almost out of time for tonight, thank you Kim and James
for joining us. Do you have any last words to leave our audience with?
Kim_Johnston_Ulrich: Keep writing and telling them how much you want to
see Ivy and Sam together, at least once! And with Sam as a willing
participant. Keep watching!
James_Hyde: Just thank you to all of the fans for your continued
support. We are going to try our best to keep you entertained for the
next year. And please write! Please write the show and let us know what
you like and what you don't like and what you would like to see happen
because the audience, you people, are the ones that make it work. And we
love you!
NBClive: Thanks for joining us for tonight's
NBClive: live chat with Kim Johnston Ulrich
NBClive: and James Hyde!
NBClive: Make sure to keep checking
NBClive: http://nbc.talkcity.com
NBClive: for information on upcoming chats
NBClive: and be sure to visit the official
NBClive: Passions website at
NBClive: http://www.nbc.com/passions !
NBClive: Do you have comments or questions
NBClive: about this chat or anything you've
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NBClive: Transcripts of this event will posted soon at
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NBClive: All of us at NBC.com and Talk City
NBClive: wish you a fantastic evening,
NBClive: and we look forward to seeing
NBClive: you soon!
NBClive: Produced by NBC and Talk City, Inc..
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