One on One: Linda Gehringer

a little bit about our very distinguished guest. She played Uh the Penelon Lot in Gilmour Girls for one episode is Richard's college ex girlfriend from Yale, her only appearance in the entire series. Her bio. She's an actress with recurring roles and Hell and Gibbons in season one and season two f X series Justified. She has also guest starred Perry Mason Fear of the Walking Dead, most recently Physical. Linda is also best known for her recurring television roles

as Fontanabo Sile in Evening Shade. She's also a stage actor who has appeared in several theater productions from Seattle to Lajoya, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Linda Geringer here she is high Linda. How you doing? Thanks for joining us. Oh I love being here. Thank you. So let's get started. We'll we'll, we'll just hit the ground running here since

we know you have limited time. Uh. So you were on one episode of Gilmore Girls as Richard college ex girlfriend Peneling a lot from Yale. Uh. It was an integral part of that episode for sure, kind of shocking. What do you remember about getting that role? Well? Um, Actually when I went to the audition, I was working in the theater a lot, so I actually didn't. Um, I didn't know the show that well. I knew of it,

of course, but I didn't know it that well. And I got to the audition and that there were so many women there I cannot begin to tell you. And it was a big audition room and I'd say maybe thirty and actresses who had had their own series acted.

I was like, whoa this is? You know? And then the casting director came out and talked to us all about the way the Palladinos wanted to speak to be like fast and don't over invest in it and don't and for me, because I worked in the theater all the time, and you have to do so many different ways of speaking or you know, I kind of loved it. I was like, okay, but still it seemed not intimidating. I would say, actually fun. So then I went in there and and I did my fast speak. The next thing,

I knew I had the role. And um, and people would say OpenL a lot or they talk about her all s. So I guess pre that episode she had been talked about between Kelly and Ed Hermit many times. Well, it's an interesting dynamic. Um, sorry interrupt, but we have we we have so many fan questions. There's we have such an engaged fan base and they send in tremendous amount of questions. We want to get to get half of it. Uh. You know, it's an interesting dynamic to

see someone else coming between Richard and Emily's marriage. Do you remember any reaction from fans at that time when your episode aired? Well, I remember people actually at the theater that I work at a lot. There's a casting director, Joanne to know, and she teaches a class. So there were all these young people, i'd say in their twenties, and I was leaving a rehearsal at the theater and

they were like, you're pedling, you're peddling. But they didn't have any judgment about it, you know, they didn't have So I don't remember people feeling like, oh I can't. I'm sure people did, but I don't remember that at all. Right, Right for the excitement of, you know, people beating her or we we love the line when Lauraa calls you who are almost mommy? Was it was it hard to

keep a straight face with with that one coming at you. No, I was taking my job too seriously, right, You know, when you spend one day on a show like that, I mean, you're not quite goofing around like some people might be. So but it was adorable. And I cannot tell you over all these years since then, how many people have quoted that to me? Oh, you're her almost mommy. These fans, they know that they know the show, the chapter in verse, the details. People say that to me.

I was like, I'd be like, do you watch this show a lot? And they're like, oh yeah, yes, they Um, how long has it been since you watched an episode? Oh? Well, I would say quite some time. My husband asked me today, Um, he said, are you gonna watch your episode? And I said, no, I mean, I think I pretty much remember it, and it's on my reel, so I see it when I'm

redoing my reel. And I said, but I thought it might be more fun to just see what I actually remember all and every niece in my life, every goddaughter in my life, every everything. They are such fans. Two of them went to the Gilmore Girls fan club in Connecticut. Major fans, right right, that's fantastic. Um, what do you remember about your time on set? What's the what is the one big takeaway from memory from from your time? Well, I can say that the night before was the opening

of Disney Hall, which I was at formally dressed. My best friend Beth Heart was like all together helping organize it. We had the clothes, we had the friends, Like, I mean, there was no way I couldn't go. And I think my call time wasn't outrageous. I think it was more like eight am, but I was. I was out till I was more worried about me being unsteady and whatever. And then I was in the costume place and ed Hermann came up and he was like, so you're my girlfriend,

And it was just such a welcoming. You know, he sat there and talked to me for a while and everything, and and then I would say, the rest of the time, first of all, everyone was wonderful and the Palladinos were right on the set the whole time, which I found

as a guest star kind of great. And um So, anyway, I remember really respecting Lauren and Alexis, and you know, not trying to be over buddy or whatever, but uh, but Lauren and I started talking about the theater, and so then she and I were often running with that, and of course Kelly and Ed both worked in the theater all the time, so I just had a really I was so grateful for them being such generous, kind

spirits because I was a little born out. So so, what was it like doing scenes with Ed and Kelly? Just easy, breezy, I'd say, yeah, I mean, because they are pros. They're pros, they're fabulous at what they do. And any Gilmore girls I had seen, you know, you identify immediately who they are, what they are to each other, what they are to their granddaughters, you know, so our

daughter and granddaughter, I should say. Yeah. So I just remember from that perspective being very comfortable, just because they were so good at what they did. Did did Amy and Dan tell you about what was going to happen, any repercussions of penalance conversation when you got that role? No, No, they did not. And I would say that most of the actresses in that room that day, that everybody thought she'd be on the show for a while, you know,

that she was going to be invade the space. Um so no, And so I just took the information I had, and I knew that she had been talked about and she'd been a threat in some way to Yeah, I just find Yeah, it was such a great shocking plot point. And and then she would show up you mean and that yeah, that she right. I mean, it was just such a shocking character kind of I don't know, knock

on Richard. And then you know, we discussed it last podcast and it's like, good lord, he really did that, and and and and then this next episode you weren't a part of it. There was no conversation about it, and no ensuing conversation that I can imagine. I mean, I haven't seen the episodes yet, but would you recall if you were mentioned in any of the ensuing episodes. No, I'm trying to think you know only my god daughter Emma, who said, Linda, you are an iconic character on this show,

you know, so I don't really know. I don't really know. Um. Yeah, but it's odd to make such a good and clearly he was not going to he wasn't going to cheat on his wife. He well, he did, he did emotionally, didn't he. I mean, if you sit there and have dinner I mean to have lunch over a period of years with somebody who you used to be intimate with and don't tell your wife about it, that is that's not good. That's not good. It's not good. That's an

emotional that's an emotional affair. I think they call that, right, yeah, something you don't want to let go of. Man. And maybe that's why in the end they decided to actually not have anything happen, because I think even ed Herman thought something would happen. You know that when he talked to me that day. I think he had that in his mind that something would actually happen. But they may

have decided that it was just too icky. You know that the lunches were one thing, but you know, actual cheating is another more than emotional cheating, as you called it. I wanted to see that. I wanted to see you and Emily Duke get out or something like that, or you know what, I so much pauler than she. It just would have made me like, really a badass. Many many, many people remember you as Fontana and Evening Shade that

ran from Um. What fond memories do you have working alongside Burt Reynolds and Mary lou Hanna Well, um, too much to talk about really, but um, the reason I had that job is because I was working in a theater in Dallas and Bert and the Thomasin's came down to look for um Southern kids, and they said, if you have other interesting actors, ring them in. So I got to go in there and read with Bert and um too, it was a scene with his wife Mary

lose part and so I got to read that. And when we were done, but the story goes, Bert was like, she needs to be my wife, you know that. He was excited or whatever, and the Thomasins were like, yeah, I don't see that. All those wonderful name people and whatever. But about a month later they had this role of the Tom stripper, and Bert said to the Thomasin's let's get that girl in Texas. I hope this is okay. She doesn't have any kids, but she's got great legs.

We can give her kids. So they flew me out and I met them and it was a blast, and I got the role. And they would fly me back between because my husband and I were um running a theater company in Dallas at the time, and so they would fly me back and forth. And then horrifically, my husband ended up being in a minor car accident where a paramedic gave him an injection of a wrong drug and it stopped his heart and killed him. Oh goodness, no, I'm not kidding you. And so here I am with

all of them like a new family. And my husband had come out and met them, and he was running the theater at the time, and I think he was doing auditions out there. So anyway, they knew me as this I was thirty five years old, you know, and uh, and they took care of me and and I just have so much to say about evening Jade, like too much. But I had the time of my life, really, and I don't know, I don't know what my life would have been if I didn't have them to kind of

bump into started new life in California. You know, all of that. They're very connected to my life. I'm so sorry for the loss of yours. Yeah, no, it was. It was absolutely awful and terrible and and you know, I mean, but they were amazing. They were amazing, And so then I just become became part of that Evening Shade family for four years and more fake press the entire time. Um so um, what was Burt like to work with? What was Burt and very little like to

work with? Bert? Bert was beyond fabulous with actors and with people above him, you know, like directors and producers, and he had done a lot of it at himself. He was tougher two actors. He was a love. I would say to all actors. Yeah for sure. Um so you recently did uh justified? Yeah? I justified did Yeah? Yeah? Yeah? Tell us about that was the first three seasons? Oh yeah, that was another really really great experience. Um and I remember going to the first audition and just feeling like

I can do this. I know I could do this, And then I got there. Once again, there were actresses much more famous than myself, but I didn't really even care. I had a gene jacket on. I was sitting on the floor and it was to be his stepmother was and in the first episode she had a very big part, and um, anyway, I ended up getting that role and loving it. I mean I had I used shotguns, I drank whiskey, I spoke serettes. You know. It was just that kind of a part that women don't normally get

to play. And then I think it was oh it was. It was the end of the second season. So I did a lot of the first and second seasons and then um Graham Yost called me at home and I was doing a play at the time. It's like, how's the play doing? How you know? And I was like, oh, good, good, And then he said, down, Linda, Um, I have to tell you we need a death on the show, and we needed death that matters. So it's gonna have to be you because I was his step mom and I

was his person who really took care of him. And and I actually burst into tears on the phone, like a cartoon where the tears to shoot out of your face. I loved them all so much, and the thought of like not being with them was very very sad to me. I think that happens on series though if it's a happy series, you know that it's hard hard to leave. So and they were a terrific bunch. Absolutely. Tell us about Fear of the Walking Dead. What was your role

on that one? Oh uh, well, Fear the Walking Dead shot in rose Rato, Rose Rato, Mexico's Dead Beach Boy and so yeah, and so I was there for about three weeks and and then and that part of it was tough. I mean, it's not like you could go out and go shopping and there'll be whole days you weren't were king. That part of it was tough. But a friend of mine had written the episode, and um, anyway, I in the end, I was very grateful to have

done it. But honest to God, that this young woman had to drag my body through all the dead bodies. I am a five ft ten woman and she was like tiny. And you know, there were things about it and they were like, oh my god, please don't make this girl carry me. Please. It's a very specific. So um, but you know, worth it. I mean all these when I think about everything you've asked me about I think about how different they are, and it is completely different.

And uh, and that's the part of television that has been a gift to me and you. You then moved on and you did some some Perry Mason episodes where you're serious regular. You just did the one episode and just one of his Yeah. And I had to work with cat for the second time in not too many years. And in CIS, I had to work with cats. And cats can't be trained. They're not like dogs, but they always act like they can. Their trainers club really doesn't

work like costs more right, Yeah? Um? And Physical tell us about Physical? What is that? Physical is a terrific show and very dear friend of mine, Annie Wise, been created it and I've done three of her plays, so she really wanted to get me in there. Uh So I ended up being the mom of one of the

major characters. But it's set back, Um, I guess in the eighties in the eighties, right, Physical, Yeah, and anyway, it was it was terrific, but it was during COVID and I had no idea, no idea what that was like and how they had to put your costumes and zipped up bags and You're always in a mask until your lines on action, not something else's. It was always that way, So I would say it was an experience too from that standpoint to have done that during COVID.

Let me ask you this, UM, can you estimate how many times people have approach you and recognized you from Gilmore's Pendling Lot? Okay, starting from the time those students did that, which was right after it was on the air, I honestly never thought it would happen again. I don't know if I could estimate maybe and now when people do it, because I'm so much older and I got to look so pretty on that show, which I don't

always you know, with these character parts I played. When they recognize being, I'm like, well, thank you, but it's a lot pendelent lot seemed to I don't know, seemed to land for people. I think because of the build up. It was so it was so shocking. Yeah, see listened to you like you were shocked when you read the episode, right. I don't remember reading the episode. I just remember watching the episode, you know, a week or so ago, and then going on air to opine about it and comment

on UM. But it was it was incredibly shocking to me. And even what's even more shocking is that you Vanish I know, and and it's not dealt with. So I we're going to bring this up in the in the in the breakdown. I do think at Herman thought we were gonna this was not going to be our only shot for sure. Maky and I talked, and then all those actresses, Like I said, I mean, I think everybody

was there. You know how they always do the possible recurring, you know, I think everybody was pretty sure that she'd come back, and I think I was pretty sad she didn't. But you know, that's just TV such a great dynamic. But between you two, you and I mean, it was and and and you and everybody, it was really it was really entertaining. It was just yeah, it was really really plastically funny. Um so what is next for you?

What do you have cooking? Well? Um, right this second, uh, I just did a play down south here in California. But I write this second, I'm not doing another play. My husband just had a knee replacement. Well he actually just had to So right now I'm not accepting any place or anything. I'm open for television. So I really don't know. Um, but mostly that's how my life goes. It's like I do a play. I'm open for television, you know, so, I don't have anything lined top right

this right other than you. Okay, we're gonna play a little game we do on every with any every interview called rapid fire. I'm gonna throw questions out. You gotta answer him his fast. You can't you ready? Okay, here we go. How many cups of coffee do you have a day? Two to three? Are you Team Logan, Team Jess or Team Dean? I didn't understand. Sorry, I don't know what you said, team something? Are you Team Logan, Team Dean or Team Jess? Rory's Boyfriends? Which one do

you like? Not sure? I don't know that I know it well enough to root. We'll come back to that. Who is your favorite Gilmore girl's character? Mm hmm maybe Laurla? What would you order a Luke's diner? Oh? Luke? I know so many women who are in love with you. I'm just saying, okay, all right. I don't know that he's on the menu, but we could. I mean, I don't know what to say. Um, would you would you rather go on a road trip with Taylor or Michelle. I'm sorry, I don't know say both of them. Yeah,

of course both. Of course I knew you're gonna say that. Finish the lyric, and where you lead, I will follow dot dot dot anytime, anywhere, anywhere, anywhere. Yeah, keep going anywhere, anywhere, anywhere down the way lead. I will follow anywhere. I don't know that you tell me that you tell me. I'm glad this isn't like tested school that you anywhere that you tell me too, oh, anywhere that you tell me to wonder, I can't remember that, Yeah, I would.

I wouldn't remember either. Jackson's vegetables are Suki's baked goods? You have no idea what I'm talking about to, you know, But let's say Suki's bigger it. Would you rather listen to Drella's harp or the Troupiter's cover songs? Just you have no idea what I'm talking about? The harp? You want the harp? Chilton Prepper Stars, Hollow Hi Stars, Hollow Hi. There you go, Linda, it was a pleasure. Thank you for coming one, thank you for your time. It was

a blast, pivotal moment in the show for me. One of my favorite episodes. By the way, um, I love that episode, loved everything about it. And we never heard from you again, which is a which is a crime, not a misdemeanor. And thank you, thank you, thank you so much for coming on. It was a pleasure having you well, thank you. I loved coming When I got the call, I was like, of course I would be on that podcast, are you kidding? Much appreciated, much appreciated.

Linda Garinger, thank you so much, and uh maybe we'll talk real soon. Okay, alright, thanks, all right, byet 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 dot com. Oh you gil More fans. If you're looking for the best cup of coffee in the world, go to my website for my company scott EP dot com, s C O T T y P dot com, scott ep dot com Grade one Specialty Coffee. Yeah.