Guiding Light
Guiding Light cancellation remembered: Chappell says "Sad Day"
Today is a day that the soap opera world will never forget, and the legions of fans who followed the lives of the citizens of Springfield and it’s enormously popular cast. Guiding Light’s cast and crew were told on April 1st of last year that the 72-year-old soap was canceled. Thought of as first as an April’s Fools joke, it turned out not to be, but a cruel irony delivering a knockout punch to its fans and its stars.
On-Air On-Soaps spoke with Crystal Chappell today whose role as Olivia Spencer was front and center until the bitter end. Crystal with heavy heart shared her thoughts on the one year anniversary of the show’s announced demise. “It is a sad and heavy day for me. I am very aware of it, and how ridiculous is it that it was on April Fool’s Day. And, people didn’t believe it and we had cast members calling other cast members that the show is being canceled and they said, “Oh yeah, right, ha ha.” But it’s heavy. I miss all the people, and I had the opportunity to tell a great story, and I think they told it beautifully, and at the end of the run I got to work with Jessica Leccia (Natalia), and it’s really magical when two women in a loving respectful way can tell a story that is important to so many people. I will light a candle for Guiding Light today.”
Guiding Light
‘Daytime Stars and Strikes for Autism’ Announces Fundraiser Dates; Proceeds to Jerry verDorn Scholarship Fund and Autism Society of America
Daytime Stars and Strikes has announced its 19th annual fundraiser on October 7th and 8th, with four events in New York City at Port Authority’s Frames Bowling Center. All proceeds will be going to the Autism Society of America and the Jerry verDorn Scholarship Fund.
As daytime fans know, Jerry hosted the event for 18 years which started with his time on Guiding Light (ex-Ross) and then on to One Life to Live (ex-Clint). Sadly, Jerry passed away in May of 2022. The scholarship honors Jerry’s legacy of his love for the theatre and Daytime Stars and Strikes and sends children with autism to theatre camps, tuition-free.
The mission of Daytime Stars and Strikes for Autism is to raise funds and awareness on behalf of individuals on the Autism Spectrum. To ensure all receive opportunities to learn, socialize, establish friendships, receive educational and employment opportunities and live their best life without barriers and in a safe environment.
Photo: JPI
Below is the line-up of events:
- Saturday, October 7th 2:00 – 4:00 pm: Trent Dawson and Friends Play Reading. As The World Turns alumni Trent Dawson, Michael Park and Roger Howarth (Trent/Henry Coleman/ATWT, Michael (Jack Snyder/ATWT, and Roger (Todd Manning/OLTL & Paul Ryan/ATWT) will perform a play reading with an intimate meet and greet, question and answer session to follow.
- Saturday, October 7th 8:00 – 10:00 pm: Bradley Cole & Friends Concert – Some of your favorite actors will perform with Bradley Cole (Prince Richard/Guiding Light) and his band. All proceeds will go directly to the Jerry verDorn Scholarship Fund – sending children with Autism to theatre camps.
- Sunday, October 8th 12:00 – 2:00 pm: Daytime Stars and Strikes Bowling for Autism. Liz Keifer (Blake/GL) and Ron Raines (Alan/GL) co-host this fan fav bowling event with an 80’s dress up theme and contests for best dressed, strikes, spares, etc. Food and soft drinks included in the ticket price.
- Sunday, October 8th 3:00 – 5:00 pm – The Fifth Annual “Bauer” Barbeque hosted by everyone’s favorite “Bauer” – Michael O’Leary (Rick Bauer/GL). Grab a Bauer burger, brush up on your Guiding Light trivia and get ready for some handbag bingo where you have an opportunity to win name brand handbags! Food and soft drinks included in the ticket price.
Photo: JPI
All ticket pricing, actors scheduled to appear, location of the venue and a special hotel block of Rooms at the Sheraton near Port Authority can be found on the website at www.daytimestarsandstrikes.com
So, looks like a fun weekend ahead featuring, Roger Howarth, Michael Park, Bradley Cole, Liz Keifer, Ron Raines, Michael O’Leary and many more for a good cause. Will you attend Daytime Stars and Strikes for Autism 2023? Let us know in the comment section below.
Breaking News
Kim Zimmer and Jada Rowland Chat Live and Reminisce on ‘The Doctors’ 1980 Episodes
Last week, Michael Fairman TV exclusively revealed that Retro TV has found 181 episodes of the beloved NBC soap opera from 1980, and they are now streaming on the It’s Real Good TV app, and soon will be airing on the cable outlet beginning on July 29th. These episodes mark the last remaining of the series, as the final two years are believed to have been erased by NBC after an exhaustive search by Retro TV’s executive and production team.
To help launch the last available season to longtime fans, You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel will welcome two of The Doctors most memorable and iconic stars; four-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Kim Zimmer (ex-Nola Dancy Aldrich, The Doctors, ex-Reva, Guiding Light, ex-Echo, One Life to Live) and Jada Rowland (ex-Carolee Aldrich, The Doctors). Make sure to join us on Monday night, July 17th at 8 PMET/5PM PT for this very special conversation.
Kim and Jada will be on hand, virtually, to reminisce about their time on the former NBC soap opera, the storylines fans can see for the first time in years, and offer more insight into the making of the series, and talk on their soap starts and enduring careers.
On The Doctors, Kim Zimmer played Nola from 1979-1982 and took over the role from Kathleen Turner, while Jada Rowland took over the role of Carolee from Carolee Campbell in 1976 and stayed with the series till its conclusion in 1982.
The 1980 season of The Doctors also features some of the greatest names in its history including: Alec Baldwin as Billy Aldrich, David Canary as cult leader ‘Far Wind’, David O’Brien as Dr. Steve Aldrich, Jennifer Houlton as Greta Powers, and of course, James Pritchett as Dr. Matt Powers.
If you have a question you would like posed to Kim or Jada during the livestream, make sure to leave it in the comment section below, and let us know if you are excited to watch the 1980 episodes of The Doctors.
Breaking News
75th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations Announced: Judith Light and Murray Bartlett Score Nods
Nominations were announced this morning for the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards scheduled, as of now, (pending Writer’s Guild strike resolution) to air on Fox on Monday night, September 18th.
Prior to that, the 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Awards are currently slated to be held over two consecutive nights, on Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th. Again, pending resolution of the writer’s strike.
The Daytime Emmys, which were scheduled to held at the end of June, were postponed due to the strike and no new date has been slated, as of now.
Yvette Nicole Brown (GH guest star, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Community) hosted the nominations reveal alongside Frank Scherma, Chairman of the Television Academy via a livestream.
Photo: HBO
Leading the pack were HBO’s Succession with 27 total nominations, followed by HBO’s The Last Of Us with 24, The White Lotus with 23 total nods, and Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso with 21.
Some very familiar names to daytime drama fans also came away with nominations and will be vying for the gold statuette this fall. First, Judith Light (ex-Karen, One Life to Live) landed a nomination in the Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category for her performance in Poker Face.
Photo: AppleTV+
Meanwhile, Murray Bartlett (ex-Cyrus, Guiding Light) landed not one, but two nominations. Bartlett is nominated in the Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his performance in Welcome to Chippendales. He also received a nod for Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work in The Last of Us. Another alumni, the late Ray Liotta (ex-Joey, Another World) will be in competing in the same category as Bartlett for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his performance in Black Bird.
Courtesy/Nerflix
In addition, Chrishell Stause (ex-All My Children, Y&R and DAYS) reality series, Selling Sunset was nominated in the Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program category. With certain categories leaving the Daytime Emmys and heading to the Primetime awards, Outstanding Game Show and Game Show Host nominees are:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
Family Feud
Jeopardy!
The Price Is Right
That’s My Jam
Wheel of Fortune
Photo: ABC
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST
Mayim Bialik, Jeopardy!
Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Ken Jennings, Jeopardy!
Keke Palmer, Password
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune
Now, for some of the major Primetime Emmy Award nominations below:
OUTSTANDING DRAMA
Andor
Better Call Saul
The Crown
House of the Dragon
The Last of Us
Succession
The White Lotus
Yellowjackets
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Sarah Snook, Succession
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Jeff Bridges, The Old Man
Brian Cox, Succession
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Jeremy Strong, Succession
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus
Sabrina Impacciatore, The White Lotus
Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
Simona Tabasco, The White Lotus
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus
Nicholas Braun, Succession
Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus
Theo James, The White Lotus
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Alan Ruck, Succession
Will Sharpe, The White Lotus
Alexander Skarsgard, Succession
The Young and the Restless Pays Tribute to Billy Miller at Conclusion of Episode
‘Dancing with the Stars’ Might Delay Its Premiere, ‘Veep’ Star Matt Walsh to ‘Pause’ His Involvement as Celebrity Contestant Due to Strikes
Michael Corbett Returns to The Bold and the Beautiful
WWE ‘SmackDown’ Heading From Fox to USA Network As Part of New Rights Deal with NBCUniversal
General Hospital’s John J. York On His Health Battle & Living Life While Waiting for Bone Marrow Transplant: “Let’s Just Go One Day At a Time”
Billy Miller, Three-time Daytime Emmy Winner, and GH, Y&R and AMC Alum, Dead at 43
Billy Miller Remembered by His GH and Y&R Co-Stars As They Share Grief on His Passing
Billy Miller’s Mother Issues Statement On His Passing
Charles Shaughnessy Makes a Return to Days of our Lives
Mark Grossman’s Mom to Appear on The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless Pays Tribute to Billy Miller at Conclusion of Episode
Charles Shaughnessy Makes a Return to Days of our Lives
Billy Miller Remembered by His GH and Y&R Co-Stars As They Share Grief on His Passing
Drew Barrymore’s Apology Video Backfires as Hollywood Voices Displeasure on Her Decision to Restart Production of Talk Show During Strikes
Adam Huss Wraps Latest Run as General Hospital’s Nikolas Cassadine
-
Breaking NewsSeptember 16, 2023Billy Miller, Three-time Daytime Emmy Winner, and GH, Y&R and AMC Alum, Dead at 43
-
General HospitalSeptember 15, 2023Adam Huss Wraps Latest Run as General Hospital’s Nikolas Cassadine
-
Breaking NewsSeptember 17, 2023Billy Miller Remembered by His GH and Y&R Co-Stars As They Share Grief on His Passing
-
Breaking NewsSeptember 18, 2023Billy Miller’s Mother Issues Statement On His Passing
-
Days Of Our LivesSeptember 18, 2023Charles Shaughnessy Makes a Return to Days of our Lives
-
General HospitalSeptember 14, 2023Rena Sofer Returning to General Hospital as Lois Cerullo
I miss Guiding Light…every Peapak-ing bit of it. I got to meet not only most of the cast at the Guiding Light luncheon in October of last year…but also so many other fans. It was such a great experience and just reflected what a wonderful show that came from the heart that it is and was. The fact that so many of the cast were and are soap fans…like Crystal…was obvious in their work…their love for the show until the very end…and their true, genuine affection for the fans. The great thing is…while we all might be moving on…you can bet that soap fans never forget.
I only started watching it when the Otalia storyline came to light, and I miss it terribly. The storyline was so beautifully crafted and the acting by Crystal and Jessica was just superb. I so wish that they could have continued the amazing story that they were telling. In the fast paced lives that we lead, it’s a testament to how good the show was, that there are still so many talking about it a year after it gets cancelled.
i miss guiding light
Like many others, I was brought to GL by Otalia. While I resisted for awhile, seeing CC in the Graveyard scene just blew me away. Slowly over the last months of the show, my interest started to expand to more than just Otalia. I liked watching Buzz & Alan, Shane & Dinah & the baby Henry story. I soon found myself rushing home from work to watch Guiding Light. That was no easy feat since I live in Australia. But thanks to the many, many fans of GL out there, I can go back & re-watch Alan & Olivia’s wedding, or Reva time travelling through the painting, or Cassie’s heartbreak over Richard’s death. The residents of Springfield were & continue to be like members of the family. I know in this house at least, the Light will always live on.