AMC ~ Cady McClain FIRED!

It was just over a week ago that I read a spoiler in my e-mail stating that Cady McClain was fired and Dixie would be the next victim of the Satin Slayer. For the most part I kept my emotions in check, but I was shocked. On the inside I was angry and hurt. I was also in a bit of denial.

How could this happen? Cady had just returned a year ago!

Dixie being alive was a Christmas present for the fans; AMC squeezed in a couple of scenes just for us. Then in February she returned full time and was back in Pine Valley for good. There was hope and happiness in fans' eyes again; Tad and Dixie had another chance and JR got his mother back. All was well, in a sense. There was much bitterness, but everything got sorted out. Tad and Dixie had a new understanding of each other, and they were on a mission to find their missing child Kate. Fans recieved hope again for Christmas when the real Kate came to town. Everyone expected a great story of Tad and Dixie discovering her, and there was always the possibliity of Tad and Dixie reuniting. In fact, they planned a lunch date just before her fate...

Dixie died from tainted peanut butter & banana pancakes. She flatlined at the hospital on Monday after sharing one last moment with Tad, saying, "Together forever." Yesterday, Tuesday, was the ultimate heartbreak. Joe tried to revive her, but he had to break the news of her death to the family. Dixie came to her children and Tad as an angel. She saw Kathy (Kate) with Tad, and realized the girl's true identity. Her whole passing was sad and beautiful.

But how could AMC do this - not just to us but also to Cady? HOW? It's unbelievable! Dixie is a beloved character, and Cady is a huge asset to the show.

I just cannot believe they would do this!

There was so much story left for Dixie and Tad. They were suppose to find and raise Kate together! They were suppose to marry and divorce a couple more times. They were suppose to wish on stars together again. They had a future! Fans had hope! And AMC just squandered everything! They ruined the show just to provide a major death to their serial killer storyline. What a waste of a good year! Just when T&D were getting back on track...as well as JR turning into a man Dixie can be proud of...

IT'S TERRIBLE! Every AMC viewer should be outraged by this action! I am, all the Cady/Dixie fans are, and all the Tad & Dixie fans are. It's the WORST firing AMC has EVER done!

But maybe us fans/viewers can bring Cady back...make AMC reverse their choice in a way. I don't believe that there's a chance for Dixie; we saw her die on-screen. But maybe we can get Cady back. It's not like she wanted to leave; there was no negotiation with her. AMC told her what they planned. The choice is all on their hands. So Cady could return...some way.

But she needs our help!

Write to the people of All My Children. Call the people of All My Children. Write to the soap magazines. Let yourself be heard! Sign the Save Dixie petition. And if you are so inclned to, boycott AMC. Stop watching the show. Some fans are doing that; more power to them!

Let AMC know how horrible this death/firing is!

Go here to find writing and calling information: Contacts

Here is the petition: Save Dixie

And also keep in touch with Cady; let her know how you feel: Cady's Official Site

RIP: Dixie Cooney Martin. You will always be loved and never forgotten.

GL ~ Happy 70th!!!!!!!

70 years ago on January 25, 1937 The Guiding Light debuted on NBC radio at 4:15 pm.

It has come a long way since that day... It moved to CBS. It was on the radio for 15 years and made its transition to television in June 1952. Many soap operas had failed to survive such a transition, but creator Irna Phillips had much faith in The Guiding Light's success. And succeed, it did.

Irna Phillips is credited with being the inventor of the soap opera. Without her, where would numerous devoted fans be? Where would the actors and crew be? What path would the writers, producers, and creators have taken? Irna Phillips is a person to adore and be grateful for.

Like I said, Guiding Light has come a LONG way. Its first family was the Bauers, whose next generations are still seen today. It dropped the "The" in the late seventies and has had a couple of signature logos and theme music over the decades. No matter what, though, the lighthouse will always be its key symbol. And of course characters and families have come and gone. Today's families include the Coopers, Spauldings, and Lewises. Today's divas are Reva, Harley, and Olivia. Today's dashing men are Josh, Gus, and Alan. But no matter who pops up in town, the show reflects its history, usually.

And its history is obviously a huge one. I couldn't possibly cover it all in any blog of mine. In fact, I don't even know it all. I've only been watching six years! But one thing remains true - GL is one in a million. Why? Because it's the longest running show in broadcast history. God forbid the day that it's cancelled.

This year marks an incredible one for not only the show but also its cast, crew, and viewers. The cast and crew are having a yearlong celebration by promoting volunteerism and creating three special, spectacular episodes.

The first show was on January 3rd; it focused on the idea from the movie Pay It Forward. Their theme is called "Find Your Light". In the episode little Zach found a bag of hundreds of dollars with no identification. Later, a note was found, and the money was for the town of Springfield. Dinah was the one tracking the money and the note. What she found was that several Springfield citizens had helped one another, spreading the saying, "Find your light". The episode also showed a connection between the characters - the theme of brotherhood. I've recently discovered that this theme was vital to GL back in its early days. So, the present has fused with the past through brotherhood. But not only in that episode...

Either for this month or for the whole year, Guiding Light's opening has been altered. It features a guiding light (from a lighthouse?), hands joining together, and the cast reciting a poem that was once said before each show during its radio days.
The poem and the current theme is this:

There is a destiny that makes us brothers.
None goes his way alone.
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.

GL's second special episode was shown today. It brought the past to the present, or the present to the past. Today's major characters/actors were the characters/actors of its radio and early TV years. The episode was quite impressive. The sets, clothes, make-up, and hair were revamped to the times of yester-years. And major players turned into major players of the past. Justin Deas (Buzz) became Papa Bauer. Crystal Chappell (Olivia) became Meta Bauer. The two most important roles went to today's biggest divas... Kim Zimmer (Reva) was the beloved Charita Bauer as Bert Bauer. And Beth Ehlers (Harley) was the intimidating Irna Phillips; she did a superb job. There are no words to perfectly describe the episode because it is quite phenomenal. I advise you to watch it even if you are not a regular viewer of Guiding Light.

The third special episode has not aired yet; tune in on February 14th. To tell the truth, it’s not even a real episode. It revolves around the actors participating in their volunteerism. GL’s cast and crew are undergoing a yearlong project to help build homes. Each month they will be helping in a new town of a different state; they’ve begun with Biloxi, Mississippi. And they plan to take viewers with them on along the way. Viewers are invited to join GL in each town, helping in any way they can. This all leads back to the slogan “Find Your Light”… There is a website for fans to keep track of GL’s anniversary celebration: FindYourLight.net. You can see where the actors will be next. You can post photos of “your light” and watch the actors share their “lights”. You can see pictures from each volunteer visit. If you are a GL fan, this is a remarkable site for you.

Everything the people of Guiding Light are doing is remarkable; no other show has celebrated an anniversary in this manner. At least not that I know of.

So join GL in its yearlong celebration by visiting the website, watching the special episodes, or volunteering in either your community or the towns where GL’s cast will be. Or simply celebrate by watching past episodes or wishing Guiding Light a very happy birthday, as I will be doing today.

Now there’s only one last thing to say…

HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY, GUIDING LIGHT!!! May you continue your fun, beautiful, melodramatic ride for many more years and reach 100!