News Round-up: GL, Judith Light, Diversity, Pilots

Talk of GL being picked up at SoapFest
"At our welcome party I heard from some of the actors from the show that there is a rumor going around, a rumor that seems legitimate, that the show [GUIDING LIGHT] has been picked up," said Pat Berry, SoapFest event founder. "Who knows? It could change. It could go from being a daily show to a prime time once-a-week show; it could even go to a half-hour show. We really don't know at this point."

INTERVIEW: Red Room's Harley Jane Kozak (ex-Annabelle, GL) and others
Kozak was a guest on "Robert Reid Live" last night along with Lynn Liccardo and Jennifer Gibbons to talk about the cancellation of GUIDING LIGHT by CBS.

Nets set to screen pilots
While NBC is set to unveil its new fall series to advertisers Monday, the other broadcast networks will start screening pilots this week. Several pilots head into the screenings with a considerable amount of buzz.

At the CW, MELROSE PLACE remains on cruise control toward a series order, but the GOSSIP GIRL spinoff no longer is a sure thing.

Judith Light heads cast of “Children” by A. R. Gurney
Judith Light, whose award-winning career has spanned a diversity of roles in television, theater and film, will head the cast of A. R. Gurney’s vital and insightful family drama, “Children,” at Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut, May 26 through June 13.

Mala Bhattacharjee on (the lack of) racial diversity on soaps
"You would think that a genre whose largest audience is people of color would actually make the effort to represent that audience. Even Y&R, who gets consistent kudos for featuring the Winters family, has some issues to work out. Like ... why were Neil, Karen, Tyra, Devon, and Ana basically in a bubble all year? And why has Lily never dated a black man? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with her being with Daniel or Cane; it's just something to think about."