Guiding Light

Michael O'Leary talks about creation and challenge with "Steamboat"!

March 9, 2010

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Michael O’Leary (Ex-Rick, Guiding Light) the brainchild of the hilarious online soap spoof, Steamboat, chatted with We Love Soaps’ Damon L. Jacobs in a two part interview about the creation and the difficulties of getting a show onto the web. Below are a few great tidbits about his choice of former cast mate, Kim Zimmer to play the role of Rhonda, the Steamboat executive producer, and how much of his real life experience with budget cuts, green screens etc helped him shape the online series.

O’Leary on the choice of Kim Zimmer as the executive producer of the soap spoof: “Originally I wanted the Exec to be a man. But Kim lives three blocks from me, and I thought, “Okay, I’ll make him a her.” Kim does not at all resemble Ellen Wheeler in any shape or form. There was Gail Kobe, who was my first Exec. There was Jill Farren-Phelps, Paul Rauch, and Michael Laibson. I can’t say of all these Execs that she resembles anyone in particular. All I wanted was a real top female who, as she says, has bigger balls than anyone else on the show. The men are a bit afraid of her. And this is another underpinning of the show, where are men in this new model? You’ve got women who are the breadwinners, and I think many men are lost. So I wanted a female in a position of power, who is smart, who is trying to protect her own interest but at the same time keep the show on the air. You have these men underneath her thinking, “What do I have to do? Where do I go?” If you really look at soaps today, who are the stars? You can arguably say that Eric Braeden is the largest star on soaps, but really it’s the women who are the divas, it’s the women who women want to watch. The men are facilitators for the women’s story. The biggest stars in daytime I’d say are Kim Zimmer, Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak. So on Steamboat you have men trying to keep their jobs, working under women who are smarter than they are, and their employment and their life depends on it.
O’ Leary on if how much of the end of Guiding Lights perils were interjected into Steamboat, i.e. budget cuts: “The budget cut thing was definitely part of my Guiding Light experience. But budget cuts are applicable to everyone. I don’t know if there is anyone who hasn’t gone through budget cuts. I don’t care who you are, where you are. Unless you are an undertaker or an accountant, you have to deal with budget cuts. And the real part of it was that fear of asking, “What’s next?” My experience with Guiding Light and the entertainment industry is that everything is changing. We don’t know what’s going to happen with network television.”

Related Topics:"Steamboat'Guiding Light R.I.P.kim zimmer michael o'leary

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kelltwomyn

Love Steamboat! It is damn hilarious, also a very witty and intelligent satire. Kim Zimmer saying she has her father’s balls is a moment for history.

Guiding Light

GL and ‘Nashville’ Alum Hayden Panettiere Loses Her Younger Brother Jansen at 28-Years-Old

February 20, 2023

Just devastating news to report on Monday evening. Hayden Panettiere’s (ex-Lizzie, Guiding Light, ex-Juliette, Nashville) younger brother Jansen Panettiere has died at only 28-years-old.

According to TMZ, Jansen died over the weekend in New York. His cause of death is not available, but there was no foul play suspected in Jansen’s death. Police responded to a call and came to a residence at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday where they found Jansen.

As with his sister, Jansen was deep into his acting career and was only five years younger than Hayden.

Throughout his career he appeared in Even Stevens, The X’s, Tiger Cruise, Racing Stripes, The Martial Arts Kid, The Walking Dead, Major Crimes, and the holiday film Love and Love Not.

Less than 3 weeks ago, Jansen shared an adorable picture on his Instagram with his hair being cut by his big sister, Hayden.

Jansen is survived by Hayden and their parents, Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere.

Send your love and condolences to Hayden and her family on the sudden passing of Jansen via the comment section below.

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Guiding Light

Tom Pelphrey and Kaley Cuoco Expecting First Child Together

October 12, 2022

Congratulations are in order for one of the finest actors we know, Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan, Guiding Light) and his girlfriend former ‘Big Bang Theory’ star, Kaley Cuoco!

The couple each shared a series of photos on their Instagram accounts, announcing that they are expecting their first child, a baby girl!

Cuoco shared: “Baby girl Pelphrey coming 2023💕 beyond blessed and over the moon… I 💓you”

Pelphrey expressed: “And then it was even MORE BETTER. 🎀🎀🎀. Love you more than ever @kaleycuoco ♥️🙏♥️”

The couple had confirmed their relationship this past May and recently attended the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards in September where they both were nominees; Cuoco for The Flight Attendant and Pelphrey for Ozark.

Tom and Kaley actually met back in April, and it has been noted in the press as ‘love at first sight’ when Cuoco attended the premiere of Ozark.

Share your well-wishes for Tom, Kaley, and the bundle of joy on the way, via the comment section.

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A post shared by Kaley Cuoco (@kaleycuoco)

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A post shared by Tom Pelphrey (@tommypelphrey)

Guiding Light

Jerry verDorn Tribute on Tap During Virtual 18th Annual ‘Stars and Strikes’ Charity Event

September 20, 2022

Daytime lost one of its most beloved veteran actors in Jerry verDorn (ex-Ross, GL, ex-Clint, OLTL). The two-time Daytime Emmy-winning star passed away earlier this year on May 1st from his battle with cancer.

In celebration and remembrance of his life and career, the 18th annual Daytime Stars and Strikes fundraiser which has always been a staple event helmed by verDorn and his former GL co-star Liz Keifer, is having a livestream special on You Tube’s The Locher Room on Sunday, October 9th starting at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST.

Participating will be former colleagues and cast members of Jerry’s from both Guiding Light and One Life to Live including: Kristen Alderson,Terrell Anthony, Grant Aleksander, Bryan Buffinton, Jean Carol, Beth Chamberlin, Crystal Chappell, Justin Deas, Mark Derwin, Frank Dicopoulos, Ricky Paull Goldin, Melissa Hayden, Rick Hearst, Crystal Hunt, Vincent Irizarry, Liz Keifer, Maeve Kinkead, Wendy Moniz, Robert Newman, Michael O’Leary, Denise Pence, Ron Raines, Sean Ringgold, Peter Simon, Erika Slezak, Tina Sloan, Krista Tesreau, Gina Tognoni, Bree Williamson, Laura Wright and Kim Zimmer.

75% of the proceeds from the event will go to The Autism Society of America and the remaining 25% of proceeds will go to the newly established Jerry verDorn Scholarship Fund which will help send individuals with Autism to theater camps and other educational programs.

To watch the livestream on Oct 9 click here.

So, glad to hear that Jerry’s friends and former cast members will be gathering on a livestream to share their special remembrances of him while raising awareness and funds for a good cause? Comment below.