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The Writers of ‘Guiding Light’ Come Together For A Virtual Conversation

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: P&G

Several of the writers who helped mold and shape the town of Springfield, and in particular the characters you loved to love, or loved to hate on Guiding Light, are banding together for a special livestream chat on Wednesday July 1st.

Look for former writers and head writers: Jim Brown, Dave Kreizman, Jill Lorie Hurst, Courtney Simon and Millee Taggart to share remembrances about stories they crafted through the years on the beloved CBS soap opera and more.

It all takes place on The Locher Room with former Guiding Light and As the World Turns publicist, Alan Locher as your host.

Click here to watch what will be an interesting hour of discussion and insight for any longtime fan of GL.

So, looking forward to checking out this “Writers Room” Guiding Light reunion? Comment below.

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Unfortunately, will be missing it, so I will have to catch it at a later time.

Now this should be interesting! Let’s hope they talk about network/P&G interference in the stories they were trying to tell … and what it was like to see other writers undo the good work they had done.

Wish you would return where you left off.

Bridget and Jerome Dobson were the best writers… Doug Marland came next.

I absolutely adored the Marland era, and I thought the Dobson era was quite well done also, but Nancy Curlee is the one who really stands out in my mind. And the fact that she accomplished what she did WHEN she did, well after the heavy network and P&G interference started (which was circa 1988), made it even more remarkable. I wasn’t as fond of Pam Long’s work as some were, but when I look at clips in retrospect I realize she was much better than I gave her credit for at the time; I think I just didn’t like GL as well as I did under the Dobsons and Marland (and I’d still say that). I enjoyed what the Labines did, later, and what Millee Taggart did. I admired what the folks toward the end were trying to do, though they were having to undo so much damage accumulating over so many years by that point and the budget cuts and such really did not help. Just about everybody else involved as a headwriter since I started watching in 1975 I will not comment on, because there’s not much nice to say. (There might be some I’m forgetting who did good work, but I can think of a handful who really did damage, and I’d have nothing good to say about them.)

Very well stated. I found your comment about Pam Long interesting. I was in high school when her version of Guiding Light was in full-steam. I thought…at the time, it was masterpiece theater. Years later…(watching YouTube)…not so much. Watching the old clips, I find the show to be so hokey, bordering on high camp. I discovered the Dobson / and Marland eras via YouTube and must say, I absolutely love the writing and storylines. I now see what all buzz around these two era’s was about.

I love any soap discussion related to writing. Should be an interesting show.

IMO Douglas Marland was the BEST HEAD WRITER in history and I still miss him to this day, he died way to young…next in line was Bill Bell and he is also greatly missed.

I think the body of Marland’s work on the soaps, taken together, probably should mark him as the very best that was. I accept some of the criticisms people have levied as valid, but I can’t think of a perfect headwriter ever, and I still think on balance, he was tops. I never saw anything Irna Phillips wrote (my soap watching started a few years after she left ATWT for the last time), so I can’t include her in my sample group. I think the Dobsons did “intense” better than anybody else, and nobody was better than Agnes Nixon at weaving social issues into solid storytelling. Bell deserves special recognition for his ability to sustain consistency of character and mood over a long, long period (which is partly why YR has suffered so much since his passing; who could possibly follow that?). Harding Lemay was the absolute best at making me forget I was watching a soap; those may as well have been REAL people I was watching. I think Henry Slesar of Edge of Night did plot better than anybody else (although Gordon Russell and Sam Hall of 1970s One Life to Live and Marland came close, and I still think Marland’s Douglas Cummings mystery on ATWT in the mid-80s was probably the best mystery even). Claire Labine did “human” better than anybody. There are quite a few others who also did good work, particularly before all the network and sponsor interference started, and whose shows I was happy to watch. There are some promising talents in the last couple of decades whose work I can’t judge because the interference makes it impossible to know what they can really do and what’s been foisted up on them. What astonishes me in retrospect, though, is how many truly bad headwriters there have been who continued to get hired over and over to destroy show after show. I take away from that that most people involved in the hiring had absolutely no idea what made a good soap writer. But since it was a writer’s medium, from the start (thanks largely to Irna), eventually it did not matter whether they could pick a good writer or not; the minute Gloria (“Anybody can write a soap opera”) Monty decided she could do the headwriter’s job better than a writer could, the soaps were probably sunk. People focus on the OJ trial and the changing demographics and more women in the work world and such as the cause of the decline, and I have no doubt that all has played a part, but I think the interference and the denigration of the headwriting function played a bigger role.

Michael (not Fairman)…I am so impressed with your knowledge of a lot of the headwriters and I agree with you…I started watching GL when the Dobson’s were writing and then Douglas Marland…How I miss the good ole days of our daytime dramas…

Thanks for bring back The Light! But let’s bring it back for real. Writers need to get together and promote a 30 min GL soap revival again on a major network. You have a great list of writers on tap. Notably missing are some of the best writing in the 1980s (Pamela K. Long) and the 1990s (Nancy Curlee with Daytime Emmy Win for Writing and husband Stephen Demorest). Pamela created characters like Reva Shayne, Alexandra Spaulding, and Harley Davidson Cooper! Thanks to Alan Locher for putting these virtual conversations to the fans. And Michael Fairman for promoting it!

I miss this show so much!!! I wish theyd bring it back streaming!!! My favorite era was the early 80’s. The 4 musketeers!!!! I think they lost their way when they killed off Maureen.

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‘Santa Barbara’ Alums A Martinez and Marcy Walker: In Conversation; Two-Hour Livestream Event with the Iconic Cruz and Eden Announced

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Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 7.  That’s when Daytime Emmy winners, A Martinez and Marcy Walker, also known as beloved Santa Barbara supercouple, Cruz and Eden, will participate in a global two-hour streaming event where they will be in conversation together for the first time in years.

The last time A and Marcy appeared publicly together was back in August of 2024, when both stars were in attendance at the 40th anniversary of Santa Barbara. Now, host Melissa Braverman, who has also penned the upcoming book, Santa Barbara: The Complete Story, will moderate this special event beginning at 4pm ET/1pm PT.

Fans around the world who continue to celebrate the enduring legacy of Santa Barbara will be able to watch Braverman lead an intimate discussion with the actors and go behind the iconic characters of Cruz Castillo and Eden Capwell.

Photo: JPI

In a statement, Braverman shared, “A Martinez and Marcy Walker didn’t just play a couple. They created a cultural phenomenon that resonated across continents. This event is a rare opportunity for fans to hear directly from A and Marcy about their chemistry, their favorite storylines, and the lasting impact of the show’s unique storytelling.”

She added, “A and Marcy’s partnership as Cruz and Eden was unforgettable. Bringing them together for a dedicated conversation about their SB journey is a true event, and a testament to their enduring appeal and the sheer popularity of the characters they created.”

The exclusive event will feature: a moderated discussion exploring the actors’ favorite memories from the Santa Barbara set. Behind-the-scenes insights into the show’s most famous location shoots and dramatic arcs, and a Q&A session where ticket holders can submit questions in advance to the stars.

Martinez, currently starring in AMC’s hit series Dark Winds is known for his multi-decade TV and film career. He won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1990 for his portrayal of Cruz. In the soaps, A has also appeared on General Hospital, One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives and The Bay. Walker, whose unforgettable daytime run began as Liza Colby on All My Children before her definitive turn on Santa Barbara, took home the Outstanding Lead Actress honors in 1989 for her work as Eden Capwell.

Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime reunion are $100, and registration is open now. For additional event information, visit Melissa’s author page on Facebook or www.melissabraverman.com.

So, if you are a Santa Barbara fan and one of the unforgettable Cruz and Eden, does this sound like the event for you? Let us know, and share your favorite Santa Barbara moment and storyline of Cruz and Eden’s via the comment section, But first, in case you missed it, the Michael Fairman Channel shared the arrivals at the 40th anniversary of Santa Barbara in this video below.

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Jennifer Harmon, ‘One Life to Live’s’ Cathy Craig, and ‘How to Survive a Marriage’ Star, Dead at 82

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Sad news to report for the One Life to Live family. Actress Jennifer Harmon who was the last actress to play the emotionally troubled Cathy Craig has passed away. Harmon, who also starred on the defunct NBC soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage, died in New York on May 9 at the age of 82. Harmon’s family made the announcement.

Jennifer was the fifth actress to play One Life to Live’s Cathy, following Catherine Burns, Amy Levitt, Jane Alice Brandon and Dorrie Kavanaugh. During her two year tenure with the soap, from 1976 through 1978, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 5th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1978. The award that year went to Another World’s Laurie Heineman (ex-Sharlene Frame).

In her soap career, not only did Harmon have major success as Cathy on One Life to Live, but she starred on NBC’s new soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage as Chris Kirby and stayed with the series through its entire run which lasted just over a year from 1974-1975.   

Photo: NBC

How to Survive a Marriage told the story of divorced couple as they battle for custody of their daughter, and as the mom enters the workforce. In the span of a year, Chris got divorced, remarried and battled alcoholism. Rosemary Prinz was the featured name in the cast.

On One Life to Live, Cathy was the nemesis of Victoria Lord (Erika Slezak). Cathy blamed the wealthy Viki for the accident that killed her child Megan Craig Riley (even though the baby has a congenital heart defect and her life expectancy was short).  So, she set out to make Viki’s life hell by kidnapping Viki and Joe’s child, Kevin.

Later,  Jennifer would return to One Life to Live in the 90s to play Viki’s attorney in a new role, went on to play Jean Weatherill on Guiding Light in 1991 and Lucretia Jones on Loving in 1995. Her primetime TV credits included: Barnaby JonesDallasThe White ShadowSt. ElsewhereHomicide: Life on the StreetOzRescue Me and The Good Wife.

Harmon was also known as one of the most accomplished stage actresses on Broadway having appeared over 21 times in different productions spanning nearly 50 years including in plays of the works of legendary playwrights: Noël Coward, Wendy Wasserstein, Lillian Hellman, Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee and Jon Robin Baitz. Throughout her theatre career she was was known as a reliable actress, and at times was an understudy for the likes of: Stockard Channing, Judi Dench, Jessica Lange, Blythe Danner and Jessica Lange.

Share your remembrances of Jennifer Harmon on One Life to Live, How to Survive a Marriage, and more, in the comment section below.

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‘EastEnders’ Wins Best Soap at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards

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Our friends from across the pond, BBC One’s EastEnders took home Best Soap honors at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards in London, England on Sunday, May 10.

Just last year, EastEnders celebrated 40 years on television and has seen a resurgence. In attendance were cast members: Michelle Collins, Jessie Wallace, Diane Parish, and Aaron Thiara, as well former executive producer Chris Clenshaw and his successor, current showrunner Ben Wadey.

EastEnders was nominated in the category along with their rivals, Casualty and Coronation Street. Accepting on stage was 20-year veteran of the series, Diane Parish, who paid tribute to all the hard working people in front of the camera and behind the scenes. “It’s not easy doing a soap, but we manage to make it work,” shared Parish.

Courtesy/BBCOne

A BIG RETURN AND MEDICAL CRISIS IN STORY AHEAD

Recently, it was confirmed that in honor of her two decades with the show, Parish’s character, Denise Fox, is set for a major storyline this year, when she is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer.

And there’s more! In the winner’s press room, Ben Wadey shared there is a major return in store teasing,“I would keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks, there might be some surprises on the horizon.”

On the official EastEnders Instagram account it also shared, “EastEnders has gone and won the Soap award at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards! 🎉🥳🍾🙌What a huge honour, we truly couldn’t be prouder. Thank you BAFTA the whole cast and crew will be holding this one high when it makes it way home to Walford.”

Photo: EastEnders

BAFTA TV AWARD HISTORY IS MADE

Adolescence, the Netflix drama that took home Emmys and Golden Globes stateside, made BAFTA TV history during the ceremony winning four awards for the first time ever. Stephen Graham finally took home the coveted Leading Actor category in what was his 8th attempt to win a BAFTA in the fields of both TV and motion pictures.

The series is Netflix’s second most-watched English-language show of all time, and won BAFTA’s for Limited Drama and Supporting Actor and Actress for Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco. 

For a complete list of all the winners, click here.

So, happy to hear EastEnders won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Soap? If you catch EastEnders, who do you think might be returning on the horizon as teased by the series current EP? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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