Pamela K. Long is an American writer and executive producer. Long won several Emmys for her work on CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 1983 to 1990. She was also writer and executive producer on the NBC film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors.[1]

Career

Before writing and acting, Long won the title of Miss Alabama in 1974 and competed for the title of Miss America 1975. At the time, she was attending the University of North Alabama, and was involved in the Phi Mu sorority.

After graduation, she moved to New York City and landed the role of Ashley Linden on Texas from 1981 to 1982. She began writing scripts for the show while she was still part of the cast, and in 1982, Long was named head writer of Texas. The show began to improve in quality, but the ratings in the U.S. remained low.[2] However, in Canada, Texas topped the daytime ratings charts for many weeks.[2] The last episode of Texas aired on December 31, 1982.

In March 1983, Long became head writer of CBS Daytime's Guiding Light, and Gail Kobe, Long's former executive producer at Texas, joined the show in the same role.[3]

Long created several key characters on Guiding Light, including vixen Reva Shayne, complicated Alexandra Spaulding, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper. Long left her role as head writer in 1985, but returned for a second stint from 1987 to 1990. She had stints as head writer for several other daytime soap operas during her career.

Long was creator and executive producer of the prime-time drama Second Noah for ABC, for which she won the Child Advocate Award. She also wrote and produced the critically acclaimed Christy for CBS, winning the Templeton Prize. Numerous pilot developments, TV movies and a feature film followed, as well as writing and producing the first scripted drama series for MTV Undressed with Roland Joffe.

Long was named lead consultant for the launch of all of MTV's scripted dramas, and was executive producer and head writer for PAX's Twice in a Lifetime, winning multiple Gemini nominations, including best drama.

In 2015, Long was writer and executive producer of the film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors which garnered over 15 million viewers its first showing, NBC's highest ratings for a film in seven years.[4]

Personal life

Long was once married to actor Jay Hammer and was credited for a time as Pamela Long Hammer. They have two sons together. [1]

Positions held

Guiding Light

One Life to Live

Santa Barbara

Search for Tomorrow

Texas

Her Hidden Truth

Second Noah

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

Writers Guild of America Award

References

  1. ^ "NBCUniversal Media Village". www.nbcumv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Grunwald, D: "Who Shot Texas", pages 23–27. TV Guide (Canadian edition), March 5, 1983.
  3. ^ "FLASHBACK: Pamela Long Hammer 1983".
  4. ^ Lincoln, Ross A. (December 17, 2015). "'Coat Of Many Colors' Gets Christmas Repeat After 15.6M Viewers On First Showing". Deadline. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

External links

Awards and achievements Preceded byJane Rice Miss Alabama 1974 Succeeded bySusie Vaughan

Writing history

Preceded byPaul Rader & Gerald Flesher Head writer of Texas October 1982 - December 1982 Succeeded byShow ended Preceded byRichard Culliton, Gary Tomlin and Carolyn Culliton Head writer of Guiding Light June 1983 – February 1986 Succeeded byJeff Ryder Preceded byGary Tomlin Head writer of Search For Tomorrow July 1986 - December 1986 Succeeded byShow ended Preceded byJoseph D. Manetta and Sheri Anderson Head writer of Guiding Light July 1987 - December 1990 Succeeded byJames E. Reilly, Nancy Curlee, Lorraine Broderick & Stephen Demorest Preceded byBridget and Jerome Dobson Head writer of Santa Barbara February 1992 - January 1993 Succeeded byShow ended Preceded byClaire Labine & Matthew Labine Head writer of One Life to Live March 1998 - December 1998 Succeeded byMegan McTavish
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