Podcast Summary

Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa

Guest: Susan Lucci
Episode: "Susan Lucci: I Am Erica Kane and You Are A Filthy Beast!"
Released: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

Kelly Ripa welcomes the iconic Susan Lucci, best known as Erica Kane from All My Children, for a lively, in-depth conversation about her legendary soap opera career, her notorious Emmy journey, personal milestones, and her upcoming memoir "La Lucci." The episode features behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on fame, soap opera madness, and the enduring power of television. A special announcement about new All My Children movies is dropped, and the conversation is filled with warmth, nostalgia, humor, and candid moments about grief, legacy, and moving forward.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Susan Lucci’s Emmy Journey

• Being Famous for Not Winning:
  Kelly and guests reminisce about Susan Lucci's 19th Daytime Emmy nominations before her win, how it became a cultural phenomenon, and the media circus surrounding each year.
  • "I settled into numbness." – Susan Lucci (04:46)
  • "After the ninth time, I didn't win...I would see people not making eye contact with me." – Susan Lucci (04:51)
• Winning at Last:
  Susan recounts her disbelief when she finally won, and the surreal moment Shemar Moore declared, "the streak is over."
  • [07:21] "Helmut picked me up by my elbow.... I whispered, 'Are you sure?'" – Susan Lucci
  • [07:46] "Now I am fully aware of people who are not in their bodies at the moment of great joy." – Kelly Ripa

The Flowers, Fame, & Aftermath

• After her win, Lucci describes the overwhelming support:
  • [10:00] "The rehearsal hall looked like a flower boutique in Paris... At home, flower truck after flower truck kept pulling up." – Kelly Ripa & Susan Lucci

Auditioning for All My Children & Early Days

• Landing Erica Kane:
  Susan shares the detailed, serendipitous story of her audition and meeting the soap legend Agnes Nixon.
  • [12:27] Meeting Fra Heflin, then Agnes Nixon for the audition.
  • [14:24] "'We'll be calling your agent in the morning.'" – Bud Kloss (quoted by Susan Lucci)
• On the evolution of Erica’s character and the dynamic with Agnes Nixon:
  • [15:30] "This character is at least as much yours. We're 50/50 on this." – Agnes Nixon (as recalled by Susan Lucci)

Iconic Storylines & Soap Madness

• Craziest Storylines:
  • [19:36] Kelly recalls the wild "libidozone" cruise storyline; Susan recalls fighting a live grizzly bear:
    • [20:09/20:34] "So we're gonna have a grizzly bear and you're going to just yell at this grizzly bear...and you're gonna fight the grizzly bear and you're gonna win." – Susan Lucci
    • She notes the bear was hot and cranky, and they got the scene in one take because the trainer was anxious.
    • [21:31] "I thought it was a good idea to be friendly with the bear before I did the scene with him." – Susan Lucci
• Soap Opera as Cultural Phenomenon:
  Stories about immigrant families learning English via the show and the ubiquity of soaps in American pop culture.
  • [17:27] Kelly: "They were speaking fluent soap opera."

Hiding Pregnancies On-Screen

• [26:43–27:50] Both recount creative methods: being 'buried alive' (Kelly), a 'hysterical pregnancy' and wardrobe tricks (Susan).
  • [27:32] "They put not a hole but a depression in the mattress. I'd be in bed a lot....Then I'd be behind a desk...then I had a cape on. I looked like a tent." – Susan Lucci

Love Scenes & Behind-the-Scenes

• "Love scene auditions were more awkward than the scenes themselves...You didn’t know these people. After one, I was like, 'What's your name?'" – Susan Lucci (30:35)
• Kelly and Susan discuss the oddness of choreographed TV intimacy, especially when real-life partners are involved.

Memorizing Lines & Show Pacing

• [34:48–35:13] Legend Jimmy Mitchell famously hid lines around sets; Susan relied on memory.
• Susan talks about her recent stage performance and still having the 'muscle' for memorization.

Erica Kane, Soap Opera Icon

• [35:41–36:31] Kelly: "If there was a singular star of soap operas, it was Susan Lucci as Erica Kane."
• Playful jabs at how every other soap tried (and failed) to replicate Erica Kane.

Broadway & Fame

• Discussion of Susan doing Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway concurrently with All My Children, and the pride of her parents at seeing her success.
  • [38:03] "My dad said, 'You see, Susan, I always told you you could sing better than you could act.'" – Susan Lucci

All My Children Pop-Culture & Celebrity Fandom

• [39:01–39:27] Stories of celebrity fans: Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer, Regis & Kathie Lee, NFL players, and more.

Soap Marriages & True Loves

• [39:42] "There were 10 [marriages], I think I was about to go to 11 when we were caught in the crosshairs of a rifle the last day of shooting." – Susan Lucci
• [40:12] On Erica’s true love: "Certainly Jack...but I think Mike Roy was a big love of her life." – Susan Lucci

Announcement: All My Children Movies (Big Reveal)

• [45:14] Kelly announces that she, Mark, and their production company are developing two All My Children movies for Lifetime.
  • Susan reacts enthusiastically about possibly returning as Erica Kane:
    • "I would love to play Erica Kane again. Are you kidding? She was so much fun to play." – Susan Lucci (45:14)
• Discussion of massive fan demand for All My Children content (92nd Street Y event, etc.)
  • [46:01] "Packed. Packed. Around the block ... They want more." – Kelly & Susan

Grief and Memoir (La Lucci)

• Susan opens up about losing her husband Helmut, processing grief, and writing her new memoir:

  • [48:03–51:31]
    • "He was spectacular, and he's very special ... It’s different for everybody. But writing it down had to be helpful." – Susan Lucci
    • She wrote at night, inspired by the encouragement of friend Nelson DeMille.

• On finding her voice, being open, and letting readers draw their own lessons.

  • [50:21] "I don't want any teaching moments. Just say these things and let people take what they can from it." – Susan Lucci

Signs and Moving Forward

• [55:05] Susan describes feeling Helmut’s presence through "signs," like dimes and immaculate feathers, and what that means spiritually:
  • "There was a plastic bag...full of dimes. ... Two dimes would show up in odd places. Then came the feathers...as if I was going to step on it. No birds. And they say that’s what the feathers are about: they’re protecting you." – Susan Lucci (55:05–56:40)
• On dating again:
  • [57:15] "Certainly, I don’t think we’re meant to be alone ... I haven’t met anyone who’s turned my head like that." – Susan Lucci

La Lucci – The Book & Its Name

• On the origin of "La Lucci":
  • [52:32] Kelly assumed Regis Philbin coined the nickname, but Susan clarifies it originated behind the scenes, then Regis popularized it.
  • "He made it public for sure." – Susan Lucci

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On finally winning the Emmy:
  "I whispered in his ear, 'Are you sure?'" – Susan Lucci (07:21)

• On the bear fight storyline:
  "Do you think we’ve gone too far?" – Susan Lucci (20:39)

• On soap opera oddities:
  "I had a hysterical pregnancy. ... Put a depression in the mattress. ... My last scene, I had a cape on. I looked like a tent." – Susan Lucci (27:22–28:52)

• On fandom and cultural impact:
  "People come up to me -- and now you're telling me -- mothers, family members, who learned to speak English watching All My Children! ... It's one of the most gratifying things." – Susan Lucci (17:55)

• On writing and grief:
  "I realized you can’t just tie everything up that happens to you in a neat little bow ... I don’t want any bumper stickers, nothing like that." – Susan Lucci (50:21)

• On possible reboot and audience demand:
  "Packed. Packed. Around the block ... They want more." – Kelly Ripa (46:01)

Major Segments & Timestamps

• [00:55–03:30] – Welcoming Susan Lucci, Emmys banter, setting the stage
• [04:09–09:11] – Susan’s long Emmy journey, finally winning, aftermath
• [11:02–16:16] – Auditioning for All My Children, origin stories, soap fame
• [19:07–21:50] – Craziest storylines (libidozone, bear fight)
• [26:40–28:52] – Pregnancy hiding on soaps
• [33:07–34:07] – Crying on cue, acting technique
• [39:42–41:32] – Erica Kane’s loves and legacies
• [45:14–46:44] – Big Announcement: All My Children movies for Lifetime
• [47:08–54:34] – Memoir writing, loss of Helmut, legacy, inspiration
• [55:05–57:39] – "Signs" from Helmut, on dating, and moving forward
• [52:32–53:31] – The story behind "La Lucci"
• [57:45–end] – Closing thoughts, upcoming book release, future plans

Memorable Moments

• Susan’s bear impression and recounting the wildest soap plot twist ([21:01]): Kelly has to clarify for listeners: "Susan is actually acting out a bear as she's telling this story."
• Soap star pride and passive-aggressive Emmy shade ([36:31]): Kelly jokes: "Nice try, bitches" to other soaps’ would-be Erica Kanes.
• On iconic fans: The who's-who list of celebrities and athletes obsessed with All My Children ([39:01]).
• Kelly’s pride about Susan on Broadway, as seen through Susan’s parents’ eyes ([37:04–38:03]).
• Susan’s honest, touching thoughts on grief, healing, and what comes next ([48:00–56:40]).

Final Thoughts

This episode is a delightful and emotional journey through Susan Lucci’s unprecedented career and personal life. From Emmy heartbreak to cultural triumph and personal loss, Kelly Ripa guides a generous, funny, and raw conversation that pays tribute to Susan’s legacy and celebrates the enduring influence of All My Children. The announcement of forthcoming Lifetime movies (45:14) reignites fans’ hopes, while Susan’s vulnerability and candor around grief and moving on provide an intimate, heartfelt close. The banter is witty, the reflections sincere, and the nostalgia palpable, making this an unmissable listen for fans new and old.

For Future Reference

• Book Release: La Lucci – February 3, 2026
• Announcement: Two All My Children movies in development for Lifetime
• Podcast Ambition: Possibility of an All My Children-centric podcast discussed
• Contact: Conversations about future dinners, reunions, and projects on and off-camera