THE OTHER GIDGET

It doesn't matter how many Oscars, Emmys or Nobel Peace Prizes Sally Field wins, how many people "really, really like her" or how many times she gets bleeped during an acceptance speech, no write-up about her achievements will be complete without a snide reference to Gidget, the role she played from 1965 to 1966 on the ABC sitcom of the same name.

What many don't realize, however, is that there was another TV Gidget. In 1986, The New Gidget hit first-run syndication. It starred Sydney Penny (currently Julia on AMC), Dean Butler (Almanzo to all you Little House fans, Buffy's dad for fans of the Vampire Slayer), and as the titular character, Caryn Richman.

Richman may have been a new face for primetime viewers, but daytimers already knew her as Elena on Texas. (She went on to play a role in another TV classic when she was cast as Nora, Greg's wife, in The Brady Bunch reunion movies and series).

To watch Caryn Richman before she was Gidget -- or a Brady! -- check out the AOL/PGP Classic Soap Channel's episodes of Texas, here!

(On a personal note, while interviewing Sydney Penny I once asked her, off the record, how she could have gone from critically lauded fare like The Thorn Birds to the bubble-gum of Gidget. She replied, "I was 14 years old. And they filmed at the beach.")

ATWT IN STRANGE PLACES

(Lee) Elci played professionally in the Cardinals organization and later in Amsterdam and Australia.

When baseball ended (although local pitchers know he can still hit a curveball at 40), Elci worked in construction, as a bouncer and a bartender. He's been an actor on “As The World Turns,” (once or twice a month for three years) and has acted off Broadway.

He won a home run hitting contest once at Dodd Stadium, defeating George Brett, Mike Schmidt, Carlton Fisk and Gary Carter.

“Dude,” Brett told him in wonderment that night. “You rake.”

Turns out it was all prologue for this new career.

Find out what it is, here. (Ed. note: He plays Teddy the bartender on ATWT).

DEAR MRS. JONATHAN RANDALL -

Or should I call you Tammy? To be honest, I feel strange calling you anything at all. We’ve never met.

But we have, in a way, haven’t we? Jonathan wasn’t imagining and he wasn’t dreaming it. He really has seen you. And because he believes you’re real, I believe it, too.

Read more, here.

ATWT: KATIE GROWS UP

When Terri Colombino (then Conn) joined the cast of As The World Turns in 1998, she was a character in search of a story.

TPTB had been so impressed with Terri's audition for the role of Georgia (not so impressed that they actually gave her the part, but impressed nonetheless), that they hurriedly aged the character of Katie Peretti (born on-screen in 1989 and played for five years by the real-life daughter of TV mom Anne Sward).

It was only after Katie was already airing that they began looking for something for her to do.

First, Katie fell for Eddie, then into a lackluster triangle with Chris Hughes (whom she accused of stalking her). It wasn't until Katie hooked up with one Henry Coleman to advance her career that her character acquired some motivation to go with her generally bitchy attitude. And when, Halloween Eve 2000, a drunk Katie lost her virginity to an even drunker Simon Frasier, that's when Ms. Peretti really found her place in Oakdale.

Since then, Katie's wed Simon (several times), Henry and Mike. But she also seemed somewhat stuck in time. For the first few years of the 21st Century, Katie had clearly outgrown the teen set, but didn't seem quite ready to join the grown-ups, either.

All that changed when, smarting from their respective betrayals by Simon and Carly, Katie and Jack Snyder fell in love.

Jack was Katie's first adult relationship. And he made Katie an adult, as well.

Now, as Jack's ex-wife faces the fight of her life, will Katie manage to remain adult about the tragedy -- or will she revert to type and resort to childish tricks to hold on to Jack's attention?

Find out this Fall, only on ATWT!

ACTOR APPEARANCE: GL

Ron Raines (Alan), Michael O'Leary (Rick) and Jessica Leccia (Natalia) will appear on the WTVF, CBS 5 Nashville program, Talk of the Town on Friday, September 28 at 11:00 AM.

The appearance will highlight the actors most recent Find Your Light trip to work with Hands On Nashville that same weekend.

ACTOR APPEARANCE: ATWT

On Oct. 29 the Workshop Theater Company will hold its annual fall benefit, the Red to Black Party, featuring stars of stage, screen and television.

The Red to Black Party will take place at the Zipper Factory with an 8 PM cabaret featuring "Hairspray" film star Nikki Blonsky, Tony winner Karen Ziemba and daytime television stars Martha Byrne, Alexandra Chando, Trent Dawson, Bobbie Eakes, Eileen Fulton, Ilene Kristen, Jennifer Landon, Robert Newman, Michael Park and Kim Zimmer as well as members of the Workshop Theater Company.

Details, here.

HERE'S THE STORY...

Today is the official release date for Guiding Light's original novel, Jonathan's Story.

As of this morning, it is ranked #50 of all best-selling books at Barnes & Noble.com and #96 at Amazon.com (#1 in romance, #1 in mystery, and #1 in tie-ins).

As The World Turns' fans propelled 2006's Oakdale Confidential to #3 on The New York Times Bestseller List. Will GL fans do the same for Jonathan's Story?

Read the tale of the book's creation from co-author Julia London here and here, and from co-author Alina Adams, here.

THE LIONS SHALL LIE DOWN WITH THE LAMBIE

Kevin Conroy isn't the only actor who, through the miracle of the AOL/PGP Classic Soaps Channel, is currently playing two different roles on two different soaps.

To double your dose of Joe Lambie, just check him out as Lloyd Kendall on Search for Tomorrow circa 1985, and as Logan Swift on The Edge of Night from a few years earlier.

In addition to those two roles, Lambie has also appeared on GH, Santa Barbara, Falcon Crest, and on Guiding Light as George Stewart, drug-dealing dad of Cameron Stewart (Ian Ziering), the boyfriend of sweet, innocent Dinah Marler (yes, I know), and one fourth of a teen friendship quad that also included Harley and Alan-Michael.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: JOHN WESLEY SHIPP (EX-KELLY; GL, EX-DOUGLAS; ATWT)

Comic-con, that's where!

GL: OUT AND ABOUT

Motor boats usually are not allowed on Lake Shawnee, but Wednesday the private beach club made an exception.

That meant that Harley Cooper was able to pull a sopping wet Cyrus Foley out of the lake and into the boat. At one point she slapped him.

All of this was setting the stage for the kidnapping of undercover police officer Marina Cooper, who was sitting by the shoreline, and has a somewhat flirtatious relationship with Cyrus.

Township police officers were on hand as all this was unfolding, but their guns weren't drawn and their handcuffs weren't out, because Harley, Cyrus and Marina exist only in the soap opera "Guiding Light."

Read the whole story in DailyRecord.com!

ACTOR APPEARANCE: MARNIE SCHULENBURG (ALISON; ATWT)

Marnie Schulenburg will appear in a production of The Yellow Road , a musical directed by Tony Award-winner BD Wong (who, in a fun game of Six Degrees of ATWT, appears on Law & Order: SVU with Tamara Tunie (ex-Jessica; ATWT). And in a Six Degrees of P&G Soaps, L&O: SVU also stars Mariska Hargitay, who is married to Peter Herman (ex-Michael-the-doc-who-cloned-Reva; GL). They have a son).

Performances begin on Wednesday, September 19 and will run until Monday, October 1 at the Acorn Theater, located at 410 West 42nd St.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.nymf.org or call 212-352-3101.

ACTOR APPEARANCE: MICHELLE RAY SMITH (AVA; GL)

Michelle Ray Smith will appear on The Early Show on September 17, to talk about her father's suicide. She is also featured in this month's issue of Glamor Magazine discussing the issue.

For more information, please visit the website of www.afsp.org.

BREAKING INTO DAYTIME

The "Breaking into Daytime Drama" panel was held at CBS Guiding Lights Studios on West 57th Street and was sponsored by Proctor & Gamble Productions. The panel was made up of a bunch of people who work for P&G's TeleVest Daytime Division, Guiding Light, and As The World Turns. Amy Handelsman (Director, Writer & Creative Development for TeleVest/Proctor & Gamble) explained that when hiring new writers she doesn't look specifically for daytime drama writers. She looks for "good writing" in general.

Read entire story, here.

THE HEIR AND THE SPARE

David Andrew Macdonald will reprise the role of Guiding Light's Edmund Winslow beginning on Wednesday, October 24. Macdonald taped his first episode on Thursday, September 6.

And in related Winslow family news, Seamus Davey Fitzpatrick will (coincidentally) take over the role of Will Winslow also beginning on Wednesday, October 24. Fitzpatrick is known to audiences for his roles in the movie The Omen and for the television show The Black Donnelly’s.

Young Will is the son of Alonzo, the true heir to the throne of St. Cristobel. (Alonzo is Edmund's biological, older brother, who was declared dead then secretly given away as an infant to be raised as a poor fisherman so that his father's illegitimate son, Richard, could be raised as the island's future ruler). Will's mother, Camille, was a scheming -- but beautiful; aren't they all? -- redhead, who first gave her son up for adoption to Richard and Cassie, then wanted him back once she learned her boy could make her First Lady of San Cristobel.

Though Alonzo initially allowed Will to be raised by the Winslows of Springfield, he eventually decided he needed him back on the island for future-Prince training. Edmund, then in love with Cassie, promised to help her fight for her son but in reality was urging Alonzo to reclaim Will, so that Edmund could eventually swoop in and play hero.

In 2005, Cassie finally agreed to let young Will reside in San Cristobel and learn such vital monarch skills as jousting and ballroom dancing, on the condition that she could remain a part of his life.

Since then, Cassie has visited Will on occasion. Is there a connection between the return of San Cristobel's true heir and that of the man who spent his life desperately coveting his crown?

Tune into GL this Fall to find out!

NO JOKE

Back in July, a tongue-in-cheek piece of "journalism" made the web rounds pronouncing:

It’s the longest-running show in broadcast history, now “Guiding Light” is finally releasing a DVD box set which features 4000 DVDS filled with nearly 16,000 episodes and special features including bloopers and deleted scenes. The DVD retails for $5,999 and is expected to be a big hit with soap opera enthusiasts.

Despite details like:

The DVD box set includes an actual piece of the “Guiding Light” set, a 15-foot wall panel from one of the homes of the Santos mob dynasty on the show. The complete DVD collection, including the wall panel, weights 213 lbs. “I thought I was getting a deal by spending over six thousand dollars on the DVDs,” said Stuart Reese. “But then the shipping costs about $950. I wasn’t prepared for that, but I really want this collection.” Ellen Wheeler, the executive producer, said, “Each episode on the DVD collection features special commentary from our actors. I’m talking about every single actor that has appeared on the show, including the people behind The Bauers, Spauldings, Lewises, and the Coopers. Even the actors who have died were able to record commentary as we knew that, one day, an invention such as DVDs would allow the use of their commentaries.”

A few fans still didn't get the joke, flooding message boards with angry e-mails about the box set's high price and "ridiculous" shipping costs.

While a 213 lb. GL box set is currently unavailable for purchase (sorry), what it is available in its entirety for P&G soap fans is the complete 617 episode run of the early 80s Another World spin-off, Texas.

See the baby versions of Kin Shriner, Catherine Hickland, Harley Jane Kozak, David Forsythe, Terri Garber, Jay Hammer, Christopher Goutman, James Rebhorn, the late Benjamin Hendrickson and, of course, Texas' grand dame, Beverlee McKinsey, right now, only on the AOL/PGP Classic Soaps Channel!

AND NOAH MAKES THREE

ATWT's newest young love triangle, Maddie (Alexandra Chando), Noah (Jake Silbermann) and Luke (Van Hansis).

Enjoy the photo!

POSTER BOY

John Driscoll (Coop; GL) updates his blog, here.

P&G BOYS HIT THE BOARDS

John Driscoll (Coop; GL) in Angry Young Women in Low-Rise Jeans with High-Class Issues. (Sounds like Ava to a T, no?)

Van Hansis (Luke; ATWT) in Die Mommie Die. (Duck, Lily, duck).

RIP

Denny Martin Flinn died on August 24 in Woodland Hills, California of complications from cancer.... He choreographed rock video sequences for the soap operas Another World and Search for Tomorrow, a ballroom sequence for the feature film The Deceivers, and an animated sequence for the feature film Ghost.

Complete obituary, here.

SFT's music video phase, featuring battling twins Alec and Chase (Kevin Conroy) is currently airing on the AOL/PGP Classic Soap Channel.

EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GUIDING LIGHT BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO CLICK!

Which GL character announced that "Love sucks?"

Which one says the best thing she ever did was "Never give up on true love. Even though any sane person probably would have?"

And who claims to be "A guy who is constantly confused by the women in his life?"

Find out the above, plus every characters' Loves, Hates, Wants and the Best and Worst things they ever did, by visiting the brand new, official, show produced website at http://www.GuidingLight.net !

A P&G CLASSIC SOAPS MYSTERY

Maybe you all can help me out. There's a man out there. His name is Chad Brown. He is a championship poker player.

In every interview he gives, Chad Brown says he appeared on Another World.

IMDB doesn't have a character name or air-dates for him. The Another World book doesn't list him. My next stop should be the Another World archives. But they're in Cincinnati.

So I'm turning to you, the fans, with a question: Any idea who this guy played and when? Or am I off to Ohio?

Thanks in advance!

YOUR WISH IS OUR...

The PGP Classic Soaps Blog got a request below for some pictures of GL's Lizzie.

Here she is, boys... Here she is, world... Here's Lizzie: Actress Marcy Rylan.

SING OUT, LEWIS (GIRLS)!

Tony nominee Laura Bell Bundy stars as bubbly and brainy Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Laura, who’s just released her first country album, "Longing for A Place Already Gone," also originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray on Broadway — the part American Dreams alum Brittany Snow is playing in the movie version of the stage show. And Brittany and Laura used to work together on the soap opera Guiding Light. Laura recalls how Brittany wanted do justice to the part Laura first brought to Broadway. “We went to dinner, and she was saying, ‘I want you to like the movie and like what I did,’” Laura shared after performing selections from her CD at Birdland jazz club in New York City. Laura, who grew close to Brittany during their soap stints, says of her friend’s onscreen performance, “It was like my little sister playing the part I had originated, and it was way better than if it had been some random person I didn’t know. I felt a sense of pride.”

Complete story, here.

Laura Bell Bundy played Marah from 1999-2001, while Brittany Snow was Susan (now Daisy) from 1998-2001.

NUKE-LEAR FUSION

In response to this post, readers have e-mailed me asking for a photo of Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) together.

Ta-da!

ATWT: CARLY COLLAPSES!

Ryan Cyrus Shans appears as a doctor who has difficult news for Carly on Friday, September 14.

And it isn't about her insurance coverage being denied. We're talking about a life-changing diagnosis. Not just for Carly, but for Jack and Katie, as well (maybe even Brad).

Carly's prognosis may surprise you. But what she does about it, might well turn out to be the true shocker.

Stay tuned!

TEEN TIME

Like it or not, soaps regularly add teen-agers to their cast list in order to provide fresh blood, a new generation of story-telling, and to court that all important 12-17 year old viewer demographic.

Some, like Daisy and Lizzie, were born on the air (though aged backward and forward, respectively). Others, like Rafe and Ashlee, are brought on sideways and attached to current, core families.

Generally, fan consensus is that newbies work better when they are connected to established, beloved vets already on the canvas. With that said, which of these potential teens would you prefer to see in Springfield in the future?

1) Ian "Rocky" Cooper: Born in 1998, Rocky is the son of Coop's mom, Jenna (above; in the garish colors), and the not very stable, blackmailing Jeffrey Morgan. Jenna wed Buzz while she was pregnant and lied (not to Buzz; Buzz knew the truth) that he was Rocky's father. Which was only fair since, earlier, she'd married Jeffrey and claimed he was Coop's father. When Jeffrey learned the truth about Rocky and demanded his son, Jenna deliberately crashed the car they were riding in, killing them both. Soon after, Buzz shipped his boys off to England to be raised by Jenna's relatives. Although, in theory, young Rocky would only be nine years old now, considering that his brother, Coop, born in 1996, is now in his early 20s, is it that far-fetched to believe Rocky could be a teen?

2) Peter Lewis Reardon: The son of Bridget Reardon and Hart Jessup (Blake's brother, RJ's father) was born in 1993 and, through a series of convolutions that included pregnant Bridget being stashed in an attic and Billy's then-wife, Nadine, walking around with a fake pregnancy pillow for nine months, ended up being adopted by a remarried Billy and Vanessa. When Billy went to jail for shooting Roger, Bridget decided she could be as good of a single mother as Vanessa and sued her for custody. In 1994, the women agreed to share custody. Soon after, however, Bridget moved out of town with Dylan, who helped her raise the boy. Now both Dylan and Vanessa are back in town. Is it time for a visit from the boy they both consider their son?

James Spaulding: Born in 2000 and named after his presumed father, Jim Lemay (Susan/Daisy's adoptive dad), James was actually the son of Beth and Phillip, conceived when both thought they were going to die following a plane crash (above; looking sad and cold). James is rarely seen these days. Should he be? And should the seven year old miraculously be aged to twice that?

What about Zach and Jude? Is it time to age them? How about the Marler twins and Clarissa? RJ? Emma? Heck, even GL's own Prince William (the baby Cassie and Richard adopted, whom she then returned to his biological father, Alonzo, true heir to the throne of San Cristobel)?

Let us know in the Comments below!

(And if the aging seems far-fetched, remember, in 1982, Phillip should have only been 13 and Rick 12, but The Four Musketeers went over rather well despite of that).

CHILLIN' WITH DYLAN

Is this man a threat to Harley and Gus' marriage?

Check out our newest hot shot of GL newcomer Brian Gaskill, and let us know, below!

And to catch up on Dylan's history pre-Brian, click here.

HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM GL!

HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM ATWT!

SUMMER LOVIN' WITH KATIE

ATWT's Katie (Terri Colombino) sure is a popular girl during the warm weather months.

Check out our photos above -- in order -- of Katie during the summers of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: CRYSTAL HUNT (EX-LIZZIE; GL)

She delighted afternoon TV soap watchers of the show Guiding Light with her portrayal of evil teen, Lizzie Spaulding since her debut on the popular CBS soap opera in 2003. She fulfilled a perfect role, able to act angelic one moment and turn devilish when needed.

In 2005, she received her first Daytime Emmy Nomination, in the Outstanding Younger Actress category. She also earned Soap Opera Digest's "Best Villainess" Award and was named one of the magazine's "Hottest Newcomers". Her other film credits include From Earth to Moon, Homeless Children, and the feature film The Derby Stallion, where she played Zac Efron's love interest, Jill Overton.

Read more, here.

GL: HOME VISIT

Nineteen-year-old resident Maria Fatibene, a "Guiding Light" fan for nearly a decade, knew she had won a visit from the show’s golden Emmy statue and a producer, but had no idea one of the show’s stars, Caitlin Van Zandt, was coming to see her Wednesday, too. Van Zandt, who portrays the character Ashlee, gave Fatibene a Guiding Light mug, hat, magnet, keychain, bracelet and T-shirts. Fatibene got to hold the Emmy statue, and her guests, who also included Maria Macina, a show producer, presented her with a bouquet.

Read the complete story, here.

ATWT: WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Jennifer Ferrin (ex-Jennifer).

Emmy Rossum (ex-Abigail).

THREE'S COMPANY

Dinah (Gina Tognoni) has a plan. It involves Matt (Kurt McKinney). It is bound to make Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead) unhappy.

And it's a pretty big deal. Guiding Light had new photos taken of all three actors in support of it.

Enjoy!