GL: Kim Zimmer's Memoir Part Two

Here is part two of my write up on Kim Zimmer’s (Reva) memoir. The full title of the book is “I’m Just Sayin’! 3 Deaths, 7 Husbands, and a Clone! My Life as a Daytime Diva.” Laura Morton who co-wrote Susan Lucci’s book also did that job here. These are just my thoughts; spoilers about the book are included.

Chapter Four is called The Role of Mom Will be Played by Kim Zimmer. This chapter is about Kim deciding to be a mom, and supporting A.C. in his career. Fate intervened and she was offered the role of Echo on One Life to Live. They decided she and baby Rachel would be in NYC, while A.C. was in Los Angeles. He had been doing well in California with acting gigs, but three months away from his family, A.C. decided to move back to the east coast and be a Mr. Mom. The book then goes into detail about her stint at OLTL in the 1980s. She talks about her love interest on that program at the time (Clint Ritchie who originated the role of Clint Buchanan.) Kim also explains how she was dropped at after her first thirteen-week cycle. She found out from a secretary, when she asked when her next days of work would be. The executive producer Jean Arley hadn’t thought to tell her ahead of time. Rumors flew that Kim lost her job due to someone at OLTL being jealous of her, who had the ear (was sleeping with) someone at ABC.

Kim then talks about auditioning a lot once she was done with OLTL, and how she got a Guiding Light audition. She felt burned after OLTL and didn’t want to try out for another soap opera. Then Kim talks about the late Betty Rea, GL’s long time casting director, who actually requested her to audition. When trying out actors, Betty could transform herself for the reading. Betty gave Kim the thumbnail sketch of Reva, which was detailed and she was interested. Then she mentions Gale Kobe the executive producer (that she knew from The Doctors) and Pam Long the head writer. Kim talks about Pam and that of all the writers she’s worked with that she respects her the most. She then talks about her auditions with Jordan Clarke (Billy) and Robert Newman (Josh). From Jordan, she could tell that he liked her, but Robert was guarded. She wasn’t Pam’s first choice, but ended up getting the job.

Chapter Five is called Guiding Light: The Early Days. This chapter has Kim talk more about Pam Long. She also goes into detail about her working relationship with Robert Newman, that it was wonderful, but not perfect. Basically how they got to know each other and trust each other due to how closely they worked together. Then she discusses the Chelsea studio where they were taping when she started at GL. Since it was the 80s things happened that were extreme, and they even had a “party room”… Hy Brown, the owner of the building sounded colorful. In this chapter, Kim also references the late Chris Bernau (who originated the role of Alan), Jerry verDorn, Grant Aleksander and Michael O’Leary. She then goes into the later era and how she would go drinking at a bar during work hours (Jake’s saloon).

Chapter Six is called Memorable Characters. This chapter has Kim writing about different performers. She discusses Beverlee McKinsey (original Alex). She ended that part with a great quote about how Bev wouldn’t stand “stupidity or naïveté” and that eventually Kim had to deal with that and didn’t appreciate it. She also goes into detail about Michael Zaslow (Roger), and what kind of person he was including how he had an ego, but that was something people liked about him. She also references Vince Williams (Hamp), who also has passed away. He died when Kim was back in NYC in the 90s, and she had that factoid wrong. There is a short reference to Charita Bauer (Bert), but she admits they never got to work together. (I wish there was a book of stories about Charita…why does this not exist?) I do like this comment “most of the people I have chosen to single out in my book have been salt-of-the-earth individuals”, of course that doesn’t mean everyone is like that. (Never really understood that cliché as who looks for salt though I do know it is a naturally occurring compound.) She also references in a blind item, one negative experience a coworker had.

Chapter Seven is called The Family Business. Kim writes about Jake being born in 1987 and how that pregnancy was written into the show, though Kim gave birth before Reva did. She shares a memory of Chris Bernau and baby Max who was crying and how Chris took care of him. Once Max appeared on screen as Reva’s baby, but was dressed as a girl. Another time, Rachel was to appear as Jessie as a girl, but Rachel would have none of that. When she had Jake, Reva gave birth before Kim did. When Jake was a teen, he appeared on GL. She also mentions A.C. directing along with how at times work came first, which was hard on their marriage.

Chapter Eight is called Leaving Guiding Light…the First Time. A.C. got a job at as a teacher at a conservatory in California. She ended up with a job on Santa Barbara (as Jody Walker), which lasted eight months as that show was cancelled. She talks a bit about Paul Rauch, who was the executive producer of SB at the end. She mentions many of the acting gigs she had in prime time. (Check out IMDB for more info). After the Northridge earthquake, they found out if Kim could come back to GL and they moved back to New Jersey.

Since I’m over 900 words again, I’m stopping with this summary. Hopefully I've given a good taste of the book without sharing all the pertinent details.