News
Judith Light Reveals She Originally Picked ABC Show About Soap Opera Writers Called ‘Staff of Life’ Before Landing ‘Who’s the Boss?’
Two-time Daytime Emmy winner, primetime Emmy winner, and two-time Tony Award winner, Judith Light was the very special guest on the Thursday, June 18 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Light was on-hand to promote her two current projects.: The AMC+ anthology series, The Terror: Devil in Silver where she plays Dorry and Disney+ and Marvel’s The Punisher: One Last Kill where she plays Joy.
During the discussion with Clarkson, who is a huge fans of Judith’s work dating back to her leading role as Angela Bowers on Who’s the Boss, Light recalled the transition from leaving her signature soap role of Karen Wolek on One Life to Live, to her first foray into the world of TV sitcoms.
Credit: COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION
STAFF OF LIFE VS. YOU’RE THE BOSS
Judith explained, how she landed her role on Who’s the Boss, when in actuality, ABC had Light in consideration for three shows all at once and the one she picked to initially appear in was about soap opera writers!
“First of all, I had been this girl who came from the soap opera,” recalled Light. “I went in and I read for the producers, and I read one scene, and then they said, ‘Could you read another scene?’ And I said, ‘Yes, and can I read another scene and another scene?’ I ended up reading the whole script for them.”
Next, Judith added, “There were three shows I was up for at ABC and it was called ‘You’re the Boss” at the time and I didn’t pick that one. I picked another one, which was called Staff of Life.I picked it because I thought it was like a sign that I was supposed to do this because it was about a bunch of soap opera writers. So I thought, ‘I’ll pick, Staff of Life.'”
However, that was not to be! “This is where the universe comes in and says, ‘no, no, no, no, no.’ I had done an audition with Tony Danza and there was a wonderful director named Bill Persky, and we did the audition together. And he said, ‘That’s the chemistry’. He said, ‘That’s it. That’s where the show lives.”
Amazingly, Light shared, “I hadn’t picked that. I hadn’t put it in first place, but all the executives at ABC had seen the audition. They said, ‘No, we’re not putting her in Staff of Life. We’re putting her on You’re the Boss!”
Courtesy/NBCUniversaal
PRIDE MONTH AND JUDITH’S CONTINUED ADVOCACY
June is Pride Month and one of the LGBTQIA+ fiercest advocates for decades has been Judith Light. Clarkson asked Judith how she became so involved in the cause for equality for the community.
“I was losing my friends,” simply explained Light. “When you’re in the theater community and you start reading about this one you’ve lost, somebody you haven’t seen for a while, and then there’s another person that you’ve lost. Also the injustice of this, of the way the people in the LGBTQIA+ community were being treated. I thought that I could say something. I had done this movie, called The Ryan White Story.”
“Ryan White was this extraordinary young man, and he died of AIDS, and he was very connected with Elton John, and they were friends,” shared the actress. Ryan was being interviewed on the Phil Donahue Show, who was extraordinary and has since passed. Phil was interviewing Ryan and he said to Ryan, ‘Your community didn’t treat you well, and if somebody else in your community had HIV and AIDS, how would you have been?’ Ryan said, “I would be scared of it, but I wouldn’t have been cruel.”
You can check out the entire conversation between Judith and Kelly Clarkson below.
Now, let us know. Would you have like to see Judith in a TV comedy about soap opera writers? Did you love her as Angela Bowers on Who’s the Boss? What do you think of her continued and tireless advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Guiding Light
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
The tragic death of Hayden Panettiere last Sunday on August 21 continues to rock the entertainment world as her passing is still under investigation. Sadly, the former Guiding Light and Nashville star, died just days before her 37th birthday.
Now Grant Aleksander who played her on-screen father, Phillip Spaulding on Guiding Light a role he played on and off for nearly 30 years, shared a touching tribute with The Locher Room via Instagram, to his former TV daughter on her birthday on Friday, August 21.
It was back in 1996-2000 that Panettiere played the role of Phillip and Beth’s (Beth Chamberlin) daughter, Lizzie Spaulding. When Hayden was on-screen her performances were outstanding even as a little girl.
Photo: CBS
Aleksander began, When I think of Hayden the first image that comes is of her running down the hall in the studio with a huge, toothy grin on her face. Literally bursting with joy. And that’s what she gave to us. Pure, infectious joy. That and a talent that belied her years.”
“She was a natural with an instinctive understanding of acting that most adult actors can only dream of possessing. But that’s not what I’ll remember most about her. It’s that sunshine she brought to all of us that were lucky enough to be in her orbit that will stay with me, expressed Grant.
He concluded with, “I’ll always cherish the years I got to be her tv Dad. I wish I could have seen her one more time just to tell her how proud I was of her. She’s left us way too soon. We can only hope that she’s finally found the peace that eluded her in her short life. Rest in peace Princess!”
Michael Fairman TV previously shared emotional tributes from many of Hayden’s co-stars here, plus Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky, GH and ex-Avery, Nashville) who wrote a beautiful tribute to his former co-star.
So, do you remember the scenes between a young Lizzie and Phillip on Guiding Light? What did you think of Grant Aleksander’s words? Let us know via the comment section below. Here’s just a sampling below, of how great Hayden was with her scene partner, Grant.
Days Of Our Lives
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
There’s a new gal coming to Salem, or is she new and a recast? That’s what inquiring minds from Days of Our Lives fans have been trying to figure out since the Peacock soap opera dropped an Instagram video heralding actress‘ Sydney Malekeh’s arrival in Salem.
The soap did confirm that viewers will first see Malekeh on the September 9 episode. In the video, Malekeh is seen going set to set from her dressing room and in to the halls of Days of Our Lives studios.
What we do know id that Sydney has been acting professionally for 6 years and had appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Apple TV’s Shrinking and the HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Plenty of Malekeh’s DAYS castmates jumped into the comment thread with positive emojis symbols or written excitement including: Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Sal Stowers (Lani), Conner Floyd (Chad), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Christie Clark (Carrie) and more now that fans will finally see her on-air. Since Days of Our Lives tapes 10-11 months in advance, Sydney would have started taping the show sometime back in 2025.
DAYS fans think perhaps because the actress’ name is Sydney that she might be playing the grown-up daughter of Sami and EJ. That character hasn’t bee on the canvas since 2021.
So, who do you think Sydney Malekeh might be playing on Days of Our Lives? Drop your casting director thoughts via the comment section below.
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UPDATED: ‘Bachelor Nation’ favorite Tyler Cameron is one of two new additions to the cast of Dancing with the Stars upcoming season 35. Cameron will hit the ballroom dance floor and so too will dancer/actress Jenna Dewan.
Cameron is best known as the runner-up in Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette, the winner of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test and starred in his own Amazon Prime home renovation series, Going Home with Tyler Cameron.
Tyler’s casting comes five years after his best friend and former ‘Bachelor’ lead Matt James competed for the Mirror Ball Trophy with pro Lindsay Arnold on season 30. US broke the casting news.
Photo: JPI
FULL DANCING WITH THE STARS SEASON 35 CAST REVEAL ON GMA
Dewan is best known for starring as Nora Clark in the 2006 dance film Step Up and for her television roles in Supergirl!, The Rookie, and The Witches of Eastwick to name but a few. Jenna began her career as a back-up dancer for Janet Jackson, Pink, Missy Elliott, and Christina Aguilera before moving into acting.
The full cast of Dancing with the Stars is set to be revealed including pros and celebrity contestants on the September 2 episode of Good Morning America. However, already confirmed are: “Summer House” star Ciara Miller, “Love Island UK” alum Maura Higgins, ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ sidekick and comedian Guillermo Rodriguez and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson.
Thursday evening August 20, TMZ is now reporting that actresses Julia Stiles and Tatyana Ali have also joined the cast. Ali is remembered in the recurring role of Roxanne on The Young and the Restless from 2007 to 2013.
Last season’s Mirror Ball Trophy went to Robert Irwin, the wildlife conservationist and son of the iconic Steve Irwin, and his pro partner Witney Carson. Dancing with the Stars hopes to repeat the success of season 24 which had stellar ratings in 2025.
Dancing With the Stars season 35 kicks off with a back-to-back premiered on ABC and Disney+ starting Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
So, who else would you like to see join the celebrity cast of Dancing with the Stars? Share your picks via the comment section below.
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
Tyler Cameron Joins the Cast of Season 35 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric’s History of Jealousy Where Elizabeth is Concerned Has Come Back Around
‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
Lucas Adams Lands First Roles Post-Y&R on ABC Crime Drama ‘R.J. Decker’ and a Top Secret Project
How John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric’s History of Jealousy Where Elizabeth is Concerned Has Come Back Around
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy and Carter Get Lame Excuses From Their Spouses, and Try to Shake Off Their Night Together
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
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General Hospital7 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
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News1 week agoLucas Adams Lands First Roles Post-Y&R on ABC Crime Drama ‘R.J. Decker’ and a Top Secret Project
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Days Of Our Lives1 week agoHow John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
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Breaking News4 days agoJohn Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
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General Hospital2 days ago‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
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Breaking News5 days agoHayden Panettiere, ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘Nashville’ Alum, Dead at 36
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General Hospital1 week agoPaige Herschell Shares Heartfelt Goodbye: ‘Thank You ‘General Hospital’ for Giving Me Jacinda’
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Days Of Our Lives3 days ago‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
