Inside Profile
COFFEE, TEA OR KATE LINDER?
Y&R’s Kate Linder Visits Toronto For A Worthy Cause!
As previously reported, OpportuniTEAS for Independence High Tea is returning to Toronto on December 8 with special Y&R guests Christian LeBlanc, Jess Walton, and Marco Dapper. The event will once again benefit March of Dimes and will include a Q&A session, raffle, gift bags, and exclusive Y&R merchandise, plus a chance to meet and greet me and all the Y&R stars. To order tickets, visit https://marchofdimes.akaraisin.com/OpportuniTeas2013.
UNCENSORED spoke with Kate Linder to catch up on the latest happenings on Y&R, losing Jeanne Cooper, and acting out one of the most depressing storylines in the show’s history: Delia’s hit-and-run death.
How are you? Glad we finally connected. Things have been a bit hectic lately on my end.
I didn’t know you were a TV producer by day, an editor at HELLO! CANADA, and you do all that while writing SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED! I knew I liked you.
I can sleep when I’m dead. Well, look who is talking! You are a soap star and you fly the friendly skies! Remind me again: are you still an FA?
Yes, I am. I know what it’s like to balance all sorts of schedule. We think a lot alike.
Speaking of flying, you’re returning to Toronto for another tea! What was the genesis of the event?
The very first one happened in Victoria, British Columbia. We’ve done like 17 or 18! I can’t believe how many we’ve done. I’ve always wanted to do them in Toronto because Toronto is such a huge market for the show. Y&R is so popular there. I had done an event for March of Dimes in Palm Springs so I pitched the idea to them. They liked the idea. And then it happened! It’s our second time in Toronto. It took a while to get this all to happen because Toronto is so far away and the airfare isn’t cheap. Alaska Air is our sponsor but they don’t fly to Toronto. But, luckily, we managed to do it. In fact, the event sold out in three days! We actually had to pull down the PSA/TV ad because all the tickets went so fast!
Have you figured out why Y&R is so beloved in Canada?
No, I haven’t. But I’m so glad it is! [Laughs] Whenever I visit Canada with friends, they are stunned at the reaction we get walking down the streets here. That’s why I wanted to do a charity event here.
Well, you get a gold star for bringing Marco Dapper up to my parts!
You’re welcome! He’ll be great.
And Jess Walton! She grew up in Toronto and has family here. I love my Jess!
I love her, too! I’m happy she’s coming. I hope my co-stars realize I can’t bring everyone because of the cost involved. Hopefully, I’ll be able to bring everyone up there soon.
And make-up and hair stars, George Guzman and Patti Denney, are coming, too!
Yes, they are. They have their own fan followings! And they promote the teas for us, too. I just love them. They’re terrific.
Except that slut, George! Let’s talk Y&R: Were you shocked when you learned they were killing off Delia, Esther’s granddaughter?
Yes, I was. It’s so sad. I don’t know why or anything. But everyone has risen to the occasion in terms of the acting. It’s been amazing. I loved Delia! Every time I would see the actress, I would scream, “Sophie!” I will miss her. She is a very talented little girl. I’m sad for us. The writers are amazing… they have something they want to do down the road and I don’t know what that is but I have to trust them. All I can do is do the best I can with my abilities and make it work.
How will Delia’s death change Chloe and Esther?
It’s definitely going to change Chloe. I don’t exactly how, but losing a child is hard one to get over. It’s so awful. Esther keeps trying to bring Chloe in closer because Chloe is so hot and cold with her mother. I hope it brings them closer but I don’t know.
It sucks that they killed off an Abbott-Chancellor legacy character. Kay was Delia’s Godmother.
I know! I have no idea why they chose Delia. Maybe they’ll tell you. No one is telling me why.
Will you submit yourself for Emmy consideration next year?
Yes, I think I will. I had a lot of material this year with Kay and Delia’s deaths.
Poor Esther just lost Kay — and now Delia. I feel bad for her. Esther has always been socially challenged in many ways but I’m most interested in seeing how Delia and Kay’s death changes Esther. But I’m not holding my breath. It’s been a tough year of grief for her.
And me, too. I agree. It’s been a tough year for me and Esther. And I’m not over it yet. It’s been hard. I still think Jeanne [Cooper, Kay] is here. [Quietly] I didn’t get to say goodbye. There was a line like that in the show: Chloe said, “I didn’t say goodbye to Delia.” That resonated with me because I didn’t say goodbye to Jeanne in real life. I worked with her that last day on the show. I’ve gone back and watched the show several times because I didn’t know what was wrong with me: how could I not see she was not well? Or I didn’t want to see it?
She knew, I think. The way she said, “Goodnight” to Jess said it all. It was poetic that Jeanne’s last scenes involved you and Jess.
So, yeah, it’s been a hard one for me. I catch myself walking towards Jeanne’s dressing room to run lines because that’s where we rehearsed. Also, our birthdays are close to each other. First it’s Jeanne’s, then, it’s mine, so this month has been tough. We always traded birthday gifts. When my birthday came around, it hit me: Jeanne’s not here. All I can do is keep going on in her memory and move on. Because that’s what she would want. I like that Y&R is keeping Kay and Jeanne’s memory alive. I hope they continue to do so.
Did you think Kay’s death storyline was believable?
Well, they kind of had to write it that way because of the circumstances. I thought it was very smart. I would have never thought of that. Kay just had brain surgery onscreen so it all worked out. And Kay would have never have told Esther she was dying because Esther would’ve driven her nuts. Esther always drove Kay nuts, never mind Kay dying! But there is stuff coming up that’s going to be interesting! You’ll like it. It was nice to have the recent fantasy scene between Jill and Esther because there has been so much tragedy on our show it was nice to have some fun.
Do you miss Esther’s comedy? She was always so socially clumsy.
Yes! I hope they write more comedy between Jill and Esther. Esther has grown so she’s not as dense. I remember Jill said, “Esther, you’re not the sharpest knife in the drawer.” But Esther’s a lot smarter than most people give her credit for.
Just like her portrayer.