Latest news with #GuidingLight
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Netflix saves a beloved TV show from a tragic end
Getting attached to a television show these days is a much, much riskier proposition than it was 20 or 30 years ago. Back then, popular shows stayed on the air much longer. Soap operas have some kind of seemingly indestructible staying power, with "Guiding Light" surviving a staggering 72 years on the air, "General Hospital" running ever since 1963, and "Days of Our Lives" ongoing since 1965. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Take soaps out of the equation, though, and the count of long-running shows gets a lot fewer. "The Tonight Show" is on 71 years and counting, and "Saturday Night Live" continues on since its 1975 launch. "South Park" and "The Simpsons" are also rare in their class, going since 1997 and 1989, respectively. Related: Netflix adds advertising tech that will enrage subscribers But in the era of streaming, it's more common than ever that a show may not survive after its first season, or might be abruptly canceled during its second or third, long after many viewers have invested heavily in its characters and storylines. A few of these that fans were sad to see go are the Mindy Kaling-created "The Sex Lives of College Girls" and a remake of "The Equalizer" starring Queen Latifah. Recently, one of the most beloved long-running shows on the air looked as if it might be next to meet a tragic end after 56 years. But thanks to an impressive saving throw from Netflix (NFLX) , the historic TV show now has a brand new home. Image source: Heimken/AFP via Getty Images In mid-December, Warner Bros. Discovery made a shocking announcement: it had opted not to renew its deal with HBO and Max to air new episodes of "Sesame Street." The decision was a part of a strategic shift for the company, which says it intends to "prioritize our focus on stories for adults and families" and that "Sesame Street" is no longer core to that strategy. "It has been a wonderful, creative experience working with everyone at Sesame Street on the iconic children's series and we are thrilled to be able to keep some of the library series on Max in the U.S.," a spokesperson for Max told The Hollywood Reporter. HBO is referring to keeping past episodes of "Sesame Street" available in its library, which means viewers can still watch it through 2027. But as for its new episodes, "Sesame Street" still was in need of a new, permanent home. Related: Netflix makes surprising move to attract new subscribers On May 19, the Sesame Workshop announced via a press release that it had found one. That home will be Netflix, which will be host to the show's upcoming 56th season as well as 90 hours of previous episodes. The update also mentioned some "fresh format changes" coming to the classic show. Episodes will focus on "one 11-minute story" each, and segments fans love - like Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck - will make a comeback. The new deal could also include some video games. According to the fine print, the streaming giant now has the rights to develop video games for both the "Sesame Street" IP and "Sesame Street Mecha Builders." These could appear as part of Netflix's ongoing gaming offerings, which have been in the works since late 2021. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) posted an earnings miss when it reported its Q4 results on February 27, with a revenue decreased of 2.5% year over year to $10.02 billion. This comes a few months after the media company announced a restructuring plan in December 2024, with the goal of completion by mid-2025. The key change is a split between its cable and streaming businesses, with "Global Linear Networks" for CNN, TBS, TNT and other cable networks, and "Streaming & Studios" for HBO and the company's film and entertainment studios. Another part of the change was the recent announcement that HBO would drop its "Max" branding and simply be known as HBO again. CEO David Zaslav said in a press release: "The new structure will give Warner Bros. Discovery more 'flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities across an evolving media landscape.'" Netflix still has twice as many subscribers as Warner Bros. Discovery does across its own platforms, however, so when it comes to the streaming wars, Warner Bros. Discovery still has a long way to go. Whether its restructuring can help compete with Netflix and Disney (the #2 competitor in the space) remains to be seen. Related: Social media reacts to surprising Warner Bros. announcement The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: Chicago ABC TV's Janet Davies to star in ‘Misery' at Dunes Theatre
In September 2022, I lamented missing a one-week performance run that was 'not to be missed.' I was with my editor and pals for our annual Labor Day getaway to Kalamazoo, Michigan, a celebrated holiday tradition of 15-plus years built around seeing summer stock theatre in nearby Augusta, Michigan, at The Barn Theatre. In operation for 78 years, the Barn Theatre's production in September 2022 was a production of the play adaptation of Stephen King's 'Misery,' with soap opera actress Kim Zimmer playing obsessed fan Annie Wilkes. Zimmer, 70, and a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, spent decades on the CBS soap opera 'Guiding Light.' A famed alum of Barn Theatre from her early career days, I did catch Zimmer in September 2011 playing Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Boulevard' at Barn Theatre. In May, I'll have my chance to once again see what's sure to be a not-to-be-missed new production of 'Misery' and at an even closer stage space. Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, a rustic and woodsy oasis of arts and culture established in 1941, is producing a new run of 'Misery' which will star Chicago TV news personality Janet Davies as Annie Wilkes opposite Kevin Giese as tortured novelist Paul Sheldon, who is help captive by 'his biggest fan.' The production, May 30 to June 15, is being directed by John Hancock, our noted filmmaker and Oscar-nominated movie director who hails from LaPorte and did the filming for his 1989 holiday classic 'Prancer' at his family's farm in LaPorte. Also in this 'Misery' cast are Jim Lampl and Emmie Reigel. Creative wiz Michael Lasswell is already hard at work on the set design, and of course, iconic stage talent Steve Scott is the artistic director at Dunes Summer Theatre. Davies was the TV entertainment reporter for Chicago's ABC 7 News for more than 30 years and the host of the award-winning '190 North' Chicago entertainment, dining and lifestyle TV series. A world-traveled, seasoned broadcast journalist and winner of 18 Emmy awards for producing, writing and reporting, Davies has covered the British Royal Family, reported live from the red carpets of the Oscars and the Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the American Music Awards. In February 2021, Davies announced via social media she was parting ways with ABC-owned WLS Channel 7 after a 37-year history. As reported by media columnist Robert Feder, Davies had changed her status as a full-time employee to a freelance contracted TV personality with ABC-7 in 2013. She joined the Chicago television station in 1984, coming from her previous TV gig at WPVI, the ABC-owned affiliate in Philadelphia. In addition to her feature news segments on ABC-7 Chicago, Davies was also a frequent host and broadcast commentator for Chicago's biggest events like the annual parades for St. Patrick's Day, Columbus Day and Pride Day, as well as co-hosting count-down duties on New Year's Eve with sports broadcast colleague Mark Giangreco, the latter who also left ABC-7 Chicago in 2021. Davies now divides her time between her beloved Chicago, world travels and her home in Galien, Michigan. She is also the board chair of the tiny but mighty stage at The Acorn Theatre in quaint Three Oaks, Michigan. Billing and branding for the venue changed to The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts in 2015 when it became a non-profit 501 (c) (3). Previously, Davies served on the Children's Memorial (now Lurie Children's Hospital) Corporate Board of Directors. Davies was born in Richmond, Virginia, and raised in Fairfield, Ohio, before she earned a BA from Miami University in Ohio, majoring in communications and theater. Davies' 'Misery' co-star Giese is a graduate of Portage High School and trained at Second City in Chicago. He is familiar to audiences at both Dunes Summer Theatre and Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso. Stephen King's 1987 novel 'Misery' was adapted for the stage as a play by Simon Moore and William Goldman, the latter of whom wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film version starring Kathy Bates and James Caan. Actress Sharon Gless was the first to step into the stage shoes of stalker Annie Wilkes during a 1993 test-out of the script adaptation in London. It opened on Broadway in 2015 starring Laurie Metcalf as Annie and Bruce Willis as novelist Paul. Metcalf was nominated for the Best Actress in a Play Tony at the 70th Tony Awards telecast. Willis was having trouble remembering his lines and his use of an earpiece to aid with his lines to be fed was met with criticism in some reviews. Later, Willis' family acknowledged the actor was having memory and cognitive issues. The Dunes Summer Theatre run of 'Misery' directed by John Hancock and starring Janet Davies and Kevin Giese is May 30 to June 1,5 with tickets $30 to $35 and available at or call 219-879-7509.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Val Kilmer, Star of Top Gun, Tombstone and Batman Forever, Dead at 65
Actor Val Kilmer, whose film roles included Iceman in Top Gun, the titular superhero in Batman Forever and Doc Holliday in Tombstone, has died at the age of 65. Kilmer died on Tuesday of pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes tells The New York Times. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, and a procedure on his trachea reduced his speaking voice to a whisper. A 2021 documentary, Val, documented his health issues along with his film career. More from TVLine Richard Chamberlain, The Thorn Birds and Shogun Actor, Dead at 90 Guiding Light and One Life to Live Vet Mark Dobies Dead at 65 The Vivienne Dead: RuPaul's Drag Race Star's Cause of Death Revealed After attending the prestigious Juilliard School for drama, Kilmer starred in the spy movie spoof Top Secret! and the college comedy Real Genius before appearing opposite Tom Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, playing Maverick's rival Iceman. (Kilmer returned to play Iceman in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick.) He also starred in the fantasy epic Willow, where he met his future wife Joanne Whalley, and played rock icon Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors, earning strong critical acclaim. In 1993, Kilmer starred alongside Kurt Russell in the big-screen Western Tombstone as charming gunslinger Doc Holliday. His work in that film grabbed the attention of director Joel Schumacher, who cast Kilmer as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in the third Batman film, 1995's Batman Forever, replacing Michael Keaton. Kilmer's later film credits include Heat, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Deja Vu and MacGruber. Kilmer's TV work was mostly limited to guest-star work, with appearances on Entourage, Psych and Numb3rs, but he did provide the voice of K.I.T.T. the talking car in NBC's short-lived remake of Knight Rider, which aired from 2008 to 2009. He also hosted Saturday Night Live in 2000. TV Stars We Lost in 2025 View Gallery14 Images Best of TVLine Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Severance, Holey Moley, Poker Face, YOU, Primo, Transplant and 25+ Others
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Richard Chamberlain, The Thorn Birds and Shogun Actor, Dead at 90
Actor Richard Chamberlain, whose TV credits include Shogun and The Thorn Birds, has died. He was 90. The news of Chamberlain's death was confirmed to TVLine by his publicist Harlan Boll, who said Chamberlain died Saturday of complications following a stroke. More from TVLine Guiding Light and One Life to Live Vet Mark Dobies Dead at 65 The Vivienne Dead: RuPaul's Drag Race Star's Cause of Death Revealed American Idol's Doug Kiker Dead at 32 - Watch His Emotional Audition 'Our beloved Richard is with the angels now,' Chamberlain's longtime partner Martin Rabbett said in a statement. 'He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.' Chamberlain is perhaps best known for playing Father Ralph de Bricassart in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. The Emmy-winning series, which was adapted from Colleen McCullough's romance novel of the same name, followed the forbidden love story between Chamberlain's priest and Meggie Cleary (played by Rachel Ward) in the Australian outback. The actor also starred in the 1980 miniseries Shogun, an adaptation of James Clavell's novel, as John Blackthorne, and played the titular character in Dr. Kildare, the medical drama based on the popular film series that had starred Lew Ayres. The show, which also starred Raymond Massey, ran from 1961 to 1966. Chamberlain's other TV credits include Centennial, The Portrait of a Lady, Dream West, Island Sun, Blackbeard, Chuck, Brothers & Sisters and Leverage. On the film side, his credits include The Four Musketeers: Milday's Revenge, The Towering Inferno, The Last Wave, Petulia and The Music Lover. TV Stars We Lost in 2025 View Gallery14 Images Best of TVLine Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Severance, Holey Moley, Poker Face, YOU, Primo, Transplant and 25+ Others
Express Tribune
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mark Dobies, One Life to Live and Guiding Light actor, dies at 65
Mark Dobies, best known for his roles in daytime soap operas, has passed away at age 65. According to a local obituary, Dobies died on March 11, 2025, in Dunellen, New Jersey, though the cause of death was not disclosed. Born on April 3, 1959, in Philadelphia, Dobies transitioned from football player to actor, landing his first role in Fame L.A. in 1997. His career took off when he starred as Noah Chase in Guiding Light (2000) before joining One Life to Live in 2003 as District Attorney Daniel Colson. His character's shocking storyline—revealing his secret gay identity while being married to Nora Buchanan (Hilary B. Smith)—sparked controversy and led to criticism from GLAAD for perpetuating negative stereotypes. Beyond soap operas, Dobies appeared in TV series such as Home Improvement, Melrose Place, Everybody Loves Raymond, Fringe, and Gossip Girl. His film credits include In My Sister's Shadow, Perception, and Greater (2016). He also starred in theater, most notably in the 2004 Off-Broadway revival of The Normal Heart. Dobies is survived by his three children, Francesca (27), Olivia (24), and Robert (21), as well as his mother, Suzanne, brother, Paul, and sister, Sandy. His obituary honors him as a devoted father, talented actor, and passionate performer, stating, 'His legacy lives on in the lives he touched.'
