I Am All Minisode: Susan Ruttan

listen while we're waiting. Don't forget Live podcast Friends Giving, Emily Coroda, Jackson, Douglas Grantly, Phillips Grantly, Buffalo and who's the last one? Who's the last one? Sally Struthers. For God's sake, I almost forgot Sally. Sally Struther is gonna join us. The most talented, the funniest, and the strongest woman I have ever met. Um because she's able to leap tooll buildings in a single bound. Um and pick me up and carry me around a set for thirty

minutes at a time. Uh and boys, and that a story. But Susan Routan is gonna be joining us any minute. And uh, I'm here. Hello, Hi, nice meeting you. How are you. I'm well, thanks, how are you? I'm doing very very well. Thanks for joining us, Thanks for being on the podcast. We're excited to have you. We love the episode. It's a it was a real kick in the you know what's then the whole the whole um. So um, you played well, you were big l a law I mean now was a huge series and you

were nominated multiple times. And uh, I think our producers are trying to figure out what happened between you and Corbyn Burnson or Corbyn Burnson and other people and what didn't he dated around? Right? He was? Oh yes, he was a slut okay on the show. I'm not speaking personally. I love around he did, And Roxanne and Army finally hooked up, um, which I don't think the audience really liked that. They felt Roxanne deserved better, didn't like why so why didn't they like that? I think they said,

I think they felt Roxanne deserved better. Um, they kind of liked the tension between them. You know, that's often the case in shows when two people get together after a long time kind of danced and the audiences go, well, you know, we kind have preferred it the old way. Um, so it was it was fine. Well, thanks for coming on. Did you know did you watch Road Trip to Harvard? Did you? Did you enjoy? I did, yes, and I forgot how wonderful that show was. Right, Well, tell us

how you got the part for Kilmore Girls. Um, you know for that show. I don't really remember, you know, it might have been offered or it probably was at that time offered um to do. Um. I don't remember what year that was. That was two and one, okay, yeah, that was probably it's a long time. Do you remember do you remember about interacting with anybody on the set or who you were? Oh? I just remember that the people everybody on the show was really nice and really welcoming.

They really made you feel like you were a part of it, which doesn't always happen when you're resting on a show, but that they were really Um it comes from the head, you know, the people that the leaders of the show were terrific and that just extended to

everybody who came on it. M Yeah, I was very surprised to get that role, uh, because it was you know, that was the time when when people from film we're crossing over into doing television, and the script was of such quality, I figured, well, you know, it's going to have a nice audition and that's going to be it A big movie stars gonna right, I mean, it's gonna

be right. A name, they're going to get a name in there, right, And uh, I think you know, the creators fought for all of us individually, like no, well thank you that you were like perfect. I think I think I think you're right. I think it was like the one thing of the thousands of auditions if I had that that I fit perfectly in. Yeah, because because it's nice when that happens, isn't it. You just get

this and you go, oh yeah, this is me. Yeah right right, I can do this and I can't see anybody else doing it and I to do this and um, you know, and you know how it is. You go in and you're almost right for something, but there's something a little like you know, and you never get those jobs. You never get those jobs. Isn't that funny how that is? I mean, casting is so ultraspecific. It's such a difficult thing to do, and that's the reason they see so

many people. It's different now, it's just sort of like you go on. There's no contact now, it's just you just put yourself on. You're just a barrel somewhere that you put yourself send it in exactly, and it's like there's no person to person contact, there's no getting to know anybody, there's no no feedback. No, you know that was great. Can we try it a different way sort

of thing? It's like you got one shot at it. Yeah, So I think I think it would be better if they just you know, cast you off your previous work, because that's going to be the best possible tape you have. I mean, you're not gonna make anything in your in your basement. That's better than than I mean, in my case, it's better and more girls they're looking for. I mean, I'm not drooling out of one side of my mouth yet. So yeah, I think I can do the part right.

That's good. You're okay anyway? Yes, things have changed? Um so, all right, so looking back on this episode now we're back to Gilmore. Did did you laugh out loud when you were watching this episode? Tell about that part? You know? I loved I love them, you know, their expressions and their responses just fed everything I knew. I mean that person. I mean, she's she's a relative, she's I know that person. Uh, the person that I played. Um, that person who's so

interested in everything you do. Um. So yeah, and and uh and I've forgotten about that haircut, which is really the same haircut as my haircut I had in the first grade. Um. So that made me laugh. Um yeah, I I I just I felt really fond of the show watching it, like, oh, yeah, I remember this, this was great. Yeah. There was a term I read over the weekend about there's a condition now known as positive toxicity, where somebody is so ultra positive all of the time

it can actually be harmful. It's like, it's like, why do you blanch when people are just so overwhelmingly positive all the time, even in the face of, you know, where their friend needs support or something terrible happened, They're just like to keep your chain up, just just you know this kind of I have to remember that. It reminded me of those characters where they're just like completely positive all the time. It kind of makes sense now why why Laurel and Rory were avoiding them, because it

was there was a little level of toxicity. There was kind of funny it was very funny. Yeah, that is That was a great episode. I love that episode. I love them. You know, I loved you in it when when you found out that she wasn't going to marry him, and it's so subtle and beautiful. Put a little zippity back in my dude, didn't it. Yeah? It was great. Thank you. Um. You know, I don't remember a single

thing about any of these episodes. You don't. I never watched them, and you know, your short term memories developed to the point where you just sort of, you know, you get rid of the old stuff to make room for the new dialogue, and you know what that's like. So I don't. I don't remember these scenes. And I'm it's like I'm watching another person. It's so odd. That's interesting, and it's so odd because I don't know who that is I'm watching and I'm thinking, God, he's you know,

when I'm good, I'm thinking, Wow, guy's pretty good. And then when I'm bad, I'm like, God, that guy, really that's stunk. You know, the should it shouldn't have kept that take, you know, you know that kind of thing. But I get all judge with myself, but not as myself, but I'm looking at another person, isn't that? You know? I don't watch what I do. I do because I don't want to. I don't want to be in that moment going God, why did you do that? Why do

I say? Why was my face like that? Second guesser's hell, yeah, you can't do it. That's why I always I just you know, I waited twenty years to to watch it, and I'm disconnected from it now, and it's I can sit back and really, um be critical about it and in a constructive way, you know, I mean, not be you know, not try to sure got anything because it's me, because it doesn't really seem like me. It's it's it's very odd, it's kind of fun. Um yeah, yeah, alright.

So look in this episode, you and your husband Grill, Laurela and Rory about their lives. Did you receive any direction that you recall on how to play that scene? No? Good? You know, I find I don't know about you, but I find that generally true. What you you know, what

what you bring in is generally what they want. It's like they hired you for that reason because you gave them what they wanted, and they don't really have to tell you it might be you know, don't stand so close, or you know, turn around a little bit, stay out of the camera, you know, just you know that kind of thing. But really it's your personality, your your nature, your intuitive reaction to the character. Um No, I don't recall any specific direction except sit there and that's it.

Have you ever have you ever nailed an audition gotten the offer, got on set and you were opposite your scene partner or partners, and it was just just felt so wrong that you didn't know how to because the audition was so smooth and you you connected with the reader or whatever, and you can connect with anybody, but then you get there. That's one job like that where I loved the material and my audition was like, I couldn't have done it better. The job was mine. I

at it. I went to the set the first rehearsal, the person that I was supposed to have a strong emotional relationship be his mother was dead in the water and just and was hostile. Um And it was the most unpleasant. I mean, I just wanted to walk away, but you know, you don't do that. You keep hoping that somebody's going to bring something out of that person or direct them or or let them know that they

need to know. But that was that was really I think the only really bad interaction I ever had, and it was it was hurtful. I cried after it because I couldn't do what I do. I couldn't. I was it was like acting with a mean brick wall, spikes all over it. You know, you just you know, have you that ever have been to you? Yeah? Unfortunately, Yeah, it happened to me over a period of time, uh, with the same person, and it's just sort of it started out so great and I mean just like amazingly

well and then it just devolved into this psychodrama. I mean it was just really weird over a period of time. Um, and it it almost put me off serious television. Yeah, it can do that almost. I I remember saying to my my team at the time, I said, look, I

think I'm kind of done. You know. Gilmore was great, and but this happened and it was like, maybe we should just take a break for a while because that was you know, part of that is because when you're as an actor, you're not just standing there saying lines. You're opening up your heart to whatever who's ever next to you, whoever you're talking to, their true emotions. They're not it's not like fake anything. So when somebody doesn't respond to you or blocked you, that's such a good point.

That's such a good point. It's such a good point, you know. Yeah, that that that interaction amongst the cast is crucial. Yeah, it's crucial. And you do form families you I mean, they don't last. You know, maybe once in a while you have a lasting friendship with somebody, but they you do form these little tribes and they're important.

There important support systems that are woven together, you know, one kindness or one gesture at a time, one successful scene after another, and they just build and build and build. And I mean the experience started out just wonderful. It was just wonderful, and then all of a sudden you could hear the screeching breaks and it just went down, and uh, I just couldn't wait for it to end. And I was so glad that it didn't get picked up.

You have know what, Oh yeah, to think that you might have to do that for seven years, Oh my goodness, I've never been so happy in my life. My manager called me, said, I got good news and bad as I said, what's the I said, what's the good what's the bad news? This series got canceled. I said, that's the best news. What's the what's the good news? She goes the series got canceled. Let me ask you, so you you've been constantly working? I mean, do you always

have the next job lined up? Oh? No, definitely not. I UM, you know, I'm I don't. I don't really work as much anymore. I mean, I work, but I don't work like I'm. I don't want to work so much anymore. Let me say that I I'm enjoying my life. I'm writing, I'm working on a project, developing project. We've got a deal on it. I'm i'm I'm. I want to take time to do the things that I love to do. The jobs that I take, I love doing them. Um, but I don't want to work all the time. I'd

like to recur on things. That's that's my idea of a good life. Call me when you need me. I do love to work. I'm actually looking. I haven't done a play in years, and I just worked on a show, UM with a fellow who played my husband, David Wells and wonderful actor, and he we became friends. When you talk about being friends, we became friends. We had an arduous job that we had to do um and through

that we supported each other. And and he brought me a play that someone had written and we're gonna start working on. Oh good, that's exciting. And you know, good things come at you know, these things happen you. You just keep finding the things that make you have Right.

It's like when I thought of this podcast, It's kind of a funny story because I thought it was some incredibly original idea that hit me in the middle of the pandemic, right, and I was not aware that there were like, you know, ninety thousand of these rewatch podcasts going on at the time. So I called Amy, the producer of this, and I said, listen, I have this idea. Lightning is struck. I have this idea. And when when she came back very quickly and said, look, we have

a deal, let's let's do it, I was shocked. I was shocked. There was like or more, um, way more. Uh. But uh, it's always nice to work. It's always nice to have a job. Yes, it will, especially when you're having fun with it. It's a blast. It's a blast because I'm I'm also a producer on it, and it's like, you know, all the guests are are so much fun and they're so happy to be talking about the show and their experiences, and it's just it's just really it is.

It's it's a true gift. It really is. Um. So let me ask you. You've been on shows like Grey's, Anatomy nine one one, and Mom, uh, and there has there been a show that stands out more than the others, uh in terms of the times that you spent on set, in the memories that you took away from it. Um, I would Mom was one of my favorite shows. Uh. Working with Anna and and everybody else on this show, I was really sad, you know, I was recurring on

that show, and I was really sad. Went on and decided to to go up and do what she needed to do, wasn't I was sad for myself, not for her. She's you know, she had other things to happen. So she she left the series after a couple of years, a couple of seasons before the last season. How many How long did it go? Uh? I think it was six seasons, So six seasons total. She left after the fifth. Yeah, she you know, she had whatever it was. It was her life, you know, and she had things to do.

But I was really sad not to get to play with her anymore on that show. Was a great relationship. And there have been endless shows that I've had wonderful times on. I've been working on the United States of Al recently, and and that's a wonderful group. I mean, Chuck Laurie, Chuck Laurie has great sets. You know, he's a he's a terrific fellow. He's mindful of everybody's needs. He's he's so brilliant. I'm just privileged to be a

part of that. Let me ask you, uh, since we're talking a little bit about longevity in the business, Um, when you got the role of Roxanne on l A Law, did you know that you were going to be doing that role for a hundred and fifty episodes? Did you have any inkling? No? No, I didn't think about it. I tell you, I never really thought of acting as a career. Um. I just sort of fell into it. Uh So I never thought anything about long term. I thought, oh, this is fun, I'm doing this. Now I'm not like

UM in the Future. I just I just was there. It was yeah, that show. You know, that Roxane, that character UM was my other half, you know, she was. She was that part of me that didn't get presented all the time. Um uh yeah. Roxanne. Was sometimes hard for me to talk about that show because emotionally, I was so deeply connected to it. Everybody in it, everybody was fantastic. Again a show where the set there were

no issues. Everybody genuinely liked each other. We had parties, we had dinners, we had you know, we didn't go home and forget about it, right. Gosh, different times, huh, different different at different times. You know. I remember once, uh one of my teachers in New York said to me, Scott, be careful what you do in the business, right because you only have so many performances inside you mm hmm.

And you know when we were all, you know, training in New York and doing our theater in that whole deal, we had this kind of attitude, Uh, this position we took against TV because of the repetitive nature of it. You have to do this care If you get a series, you're gonna be on it for you know, potentially you know, two, three, five, seven years, whatever it is. And you know, we were warned about this, said, you're not going to be able to do the great roles, not going to be able

to do the roles you want to do. You're gonna do this one role that you want to do at the time, but then seven years later you're gonna evolve as a person. But you keep having to go back and dip into the same well. And you know, careful, it could rob you of whatever gift you have been given to portray all these different characters. If you're so inclined that you want to have a varied career, you know what I mean? And man, was she right because at the end of Gilmore, I was like, Wow, I

need a break. It's like when you get to the point where you're right, acting shouldn't be a job. It shouldn't be a daily job, but it is, right, So how do you so? The hard part about TV, and I know you went through this is how do you keep it fresh? How do you stay inspired? And when it becomes a burden, when it becomes like, oh, it's my job, and yeah, you know there are those you know you take those jobs and sometimes that's just about money.

You know, they're offering me a lot of money to do something that may not be, you know, the biggest heart thing in the world, but you'll do it because sometimes you do have to do a job, or you want to do the job or whatever. Um. But you know, I think the thing is to keep your heart intact, you know, to keep present emotionally with every role. UM. In l a Law. One of the things that I was grateful for was that the character evolved. She was not the same person at the end of the show

as she was at the beginning. She grew as a human being, and that that doesn't always happen on a series. UM. So in that sense, I was extremely lucky. UM. Do you feel like your character on on the show like grew and without question, without question? Yeah, And that's it's like it's like you get to live the life of another person, um, which is amazing. Uh. That's what it's great for actors. We get to be all these other people, experience their trials and tribulations and loves and losses and

and uh, and then go back to our own. It's like, if they're really bad, you could leave those behind. Now. I think we were all excited to come back and do the reboot reboot with Netflix in two thousand and sixteen because there was you know, there was still a lot of life left in the characters and in the story, and we weren't, um, what's the term. We weren't really artistically bankrupt as much as maybe we thought we were

at the end of the run of the series. Um because some people had some pretty empty gas tanks artistically speaking, and needed to, you know, explore greener pastures. And I fully understand and support that. I wonder what you're doing this. You know, the fans need content at they're not getting any content. I mean, this is this is a fan base that is so utterly devoted and for obvious reasons, and they're not getting any content. It must be so frustrating.

And now I get how they feel. I mean, it must be so frustrating just loving something so much and it's just unrequited, unrequited year after year, and you live on hope, and you live on hope and just nothing happens. And then you get this reboot, which was kind of like, I don't know, right, it was math a little bit. And so they want they want more, they want better, and so I'm well, I'm you know, I'm doing my little part, my little part. No, we are you and

I are giving it to him. Now we're doing our part right. Um, Listen, this has been fun. We'd love to have you back. It was really it was really nice talking to you. You're you're a delight and thank you you too. And you're a You're a true artist, you're a true actor. I can tell just from the short conversation we had. Keeping it real, keeping it real,

keeping that flame, keeping that flame alive. So all the best to you, Susan, and thank you for coming on and thank you for your wonderful, wonderful work throughout your career and especially on this show and this episode. It was terrific. You're adul Thank you so much. Alright, sweetheart, all the best, all right, bye, hey everybody, and don't forget follow us on Instagram at I Am All In podcast and email us at Gilmore at I heart radio

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