Errol/Bree/King: If you want to move this to the Entertainment News section, go right ahead.

There is a short item in USA TODAY saying GL will go dark the entire week of Jan. 22-26 for the 70th anniversary. Apparently, while the show is not in production, GL personnel (no word on who) will go to New Orleans to help out in the continuing efforts to restore the city after Katrina.

The ITL on Feb. 14 will not be a character-driven episode, but it will show the real-life actors and crew in New Orleans.

I sure hope we get some footage from the archives for this outstanding daytime drama, but this is a decent way to kick off the celebration.

Forgive me if I sound insensitive, but I think this is a ridiculous way to celebrate the 70th anniversary, especially if it's all we get. It just has absolutely nothing to do with GL and will no doubt draw some of the lowest ratings for the series.

I want big returns, I want tons and tons of clips from the past. They can send the cast to help in New Orleans, but to turn it into an episode? Sorry, I just d on't get it.

This is really nice. This reallt warms my heat. i take my hat off to the people at Guiing light And CBS. Guiding ight fans you should be proud and I hope GL wins emmy for best show.

Errol/Bree/King: If you want to move this to the Entertainment News section, go right ahead.

There is a short item in USA TODAY saying GL will go dark the entire week of Jan. 22-26 for the 70th anniversary. Apparently, while the show is not in production, GL personnel (no word on who) will go to New Orleans to help out in the continuing efforts to restore the city after Katrina.

The ITL on Feb. 14 will not be a character-driven episode, but it will show the real-life actors and crew in New Orleans.

I sure hope we get some footage from the archives for this outstanding daytime drama, but this is a decent way to kick off the celebration.

Forgive me if I sound insensitive, but I think this is a ridiculous way to celebrate the 70th anniversary, especially if it's all we get. It just has absolutely nothing to do with GL and will no doubt draw some of the lowest ratings for the series.

I want big returns, I want tons and tons of clips from the past. They can send the cast to help in New Orleans, but to turn it into an episode? Sorry, I just d on't get it.

We're already getting clips -- black and white ones at that! Did you see the 70 years anniversary promo today after the ITL episode? I was very excited!

I agree with you that while their going down to New Orleans is admirable, it may not make for particularly compelling television. But given that promo today, I'm sure that's not all the show is doing.

isn't the big anniversary in June?

isn't the big anniversary in June?

I think June is the TV anniversary and January is the overall anniversary going back further to the radio years.

By the way, that's cool that you have a Dalek in your avatar, Drew! I am also a Doctor Who fan. Only the P&G soaps could have a longer history than Doctor Who!

Remember the YEAR of 2007 is the 70th Anniversary. Not just January. What GL is doing is awesome.

I expect more from GL as well, but how dare anyone discount this as bad news for GL?

The promo at the end yesterday was awesome. GL is just so good right now and the show yesterday with Josh and Billy proved that.

Here is the article from the P&G blog

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

For 70 years, the town of Springfield has been kept afloat through the devotion of Guiding Light's many millions of fans.

In celebration of their milestone anniversary, the historic daytime drama has chosen to thank the American people for their decades of support by helping to build up the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged cities of the Gulf Coast -- and more.

To that end, GL announced a year-long partnership with Hands On Network, a nonprofit of 64 volunteer organizations focusing primarily on raising the level of volunteerism across the U.S.

"Seventy years ago Irna Phillips created Guiding Light with one fundamental theme in mind, 'the brotherhood of man,' "” says Ellen Wheeler, Guiding Light'’s Executive Producer. "We're hoping that this theme and the show's commitment to Hands On Network will resound with our viewers and motivate people to be the change they wish to see in their communities."”

To kick-off this campaign, Guiding Light will shut down production in their New York studio during their anniversary week of January 22-26, 2007 and take the entire cast and crew to the Gulf Coast. Guiding Light's crew will film cast members at work and viewers will get the chance to see the results in a special episode airing on Wednesday, February 14, 2007.

Following the week in the Gulf Coast, Guiding Light cast members will travel to a different city each month, encouraging their fans to volunteer alongside them.

If you would like to hammer with Harley or rebuild with Reva, please consider volunteering at one or several of the below volunteer locations:

2-24-07 Atlanta, GA Hands On Atlanta

3-31-07 Norfolk, VA Volunteer Hampton Roads

4-21-07 New York City New York Cares

5-4 to 5-5-07 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh Cares

6-2-07 Los Angeles, CA L.A. Works

7-14-07 New Orleans, LA Hands On New Orleans

8-18-07 St. Louis, MO St. Louis Cares

9-29-07 Nashville, TN Hands On Nashville

10-27-07 New York City New York Cares

11-3-07 Miami, FL Hands On Miami

12-2007 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Volunteer Central

And make certain you tune into the show on January 3, 2007. This pay-it-forward styled episode will launch Guiding Light's yearlong Find Your Light theme.

Springfield is mysteriously bestowed with good fortune and the residents are surprised to learn how each of their solitary acts of kindness were passed on to others and ultimately made a meaningful impact on the town.

This theme harkens back to the roots of Guiding Light, and the very timely notions of community and brotherhood.

For more information visit www.findyourlight.net.

http://pgpclassicsoaps.blogspot.com/2006/1...n-of.html#links

I have VERY mixed feelings on this.

How could you possibly have mixed feelings on this?

Please explain. To have this amount of good come from this, I find it hard to imagine anyone having any issue with it.

Seems interesting

How could you possibly have mixed feelings on this?

Please explain. To have this amount of good come from this, I find it hard to imagine anyone having any issue with it.

First and foremost I think this is a good, rewarding idea...however as well have mixed feelings about this and here is why. Guiding Light is the longest running television series, EVER. They should capitolize on that and begin to tell some good stories. GL as of late has been using to many gimicks to draw in viewers and well it's not working.

This is a wonderful idea, but to devote an "ITL" episode to it on FEBRUARY 14th of all days, VALENTINES Day and during sweeps is a mistake. "GL" could of used this as a spring board with Ed, Michelle and Danny being in the Gulf region, but they most likely won't even recognize that. Now...if they were to go down and do this and then on the INL Wednesday episode for the month of February incorporate clips and interviews into the mid show break would be even better. Take it a step further and have a month long 3 episode a week online, much like they did with INTURN and incorporate. Not only does that spread out the coverage of this amazing gesture, it also expands GL to the web which they have little exporsure to as it is. But to devote an hour to this, when soaps are about telling entertaining stories.

I do not in any way, shape or form...mean to be disrespectful but we do not see CSI stopping production to do something like this...they do it off camera and then tell the story through other venues. That's all.

I don't have any problem with GL doing this, I think it's great that they are. But I don't like that they're devoting an actual episode to it. That's my only problem with it.

Does this mean GL has been renewed for another year? I ask that because--while I have not heard anything regarding renewal--the schedule provided (that lists the dates in 2007 when the GL cast will be visiting different cities to volunteer) goes all the way through December 2007. To me, it makes no sense for GL to agree to provide volunteer services all throughout next year if the show is planned to be cancelled when its current contract expires (sometime in the next six months or so).

Does this mean GL has been renewed for another year? I ask that because--while I have not heard anything regarding renewal--the schedule provided (that lists the dates in 2007 when the GL cast will be visiting different cities to volunteer) goes all the way through December 2007. To me, it makes no sense for GL to agree to provide volunteer services all throughout next year if the show is planned to be cancelled when its current contract expires (sometime in the next six months or so).

No. I don't think it signals that the show is renewed because even if it were to be canceled, CBS could let let the show run till the end of the 2007 or even into 2008. I think that is how it was going to be with Days if it would have been cancled last spring. It wouldn't have gone off the air officially till March of 2007.