Entire Cast To Help Build Homes In The Gulf Coast January 22-26, 2007

Special Episodes To Be Broadcast Wednesday, Jan. 3, Thursday, Jan. 25 and Wednesday, Feb. 14, on the CBS Television Network

CBS's daytime drama GUIDING LIGHT, the longest-running show in broadcast history, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in January with Hands On Network, a nonprofit network of 64 volunteer organizations and a half million volunteers.  The show, which celebrates 70 years on the air on January 25th, has announced a unique year-long partnership that will focus primarily on raising the level of volunteerism across the U.S.  To kick off this campaign, GUIDING LIGHT will shut down production in their New York studio during their anniversary week, January 22-26, 2007, and join the volunteer movement by taking the entire cast and crew to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina and participate in other volunteer activities throughout the region.  The show's crew will film cast members at work in the Gulf Coast and viewers will get the chance to see the results in a special episode to be broadcast on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, (check local listings) on the CBS Television Network.

"Seventy years ago Irna Phillips created GUIDING LIGHT with one fundamental theme in mind, 'the brotherhood of man,'" said Ellen Wheeler, GUIDING LIGHT'S executive producer.  "We're hoping that this theme and the show's commitment to Hands On Network will resonate with our viewers and motivate people to be the change they wish to see in their own communities."

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.  With the help of Hands On Network and its affiliates, the show hopes to provide an inspirational platform to engage more people in volunteering.  "Our fans have given us the chance to entertain them for the past seven decades," added Wheeler.  "Giving back to them in their community is our small way of saying thank you!" 

Following is a list of the cities and the various Hands On Affiliates that GUIDING LIGHT'S cast members will be working with in the coming months:

2-24-07             Atlanta, Ga.                                          Hands On Atlanta

3-31-07             Norfolk, Va.                                          Volunteer Hampton Roads

4-21-07             New York, N.Y.                                   New York Cares

5-4 to 5-5-07     Pittsburgh, Pa.                                       Pittsburgh Cares

6-2-07               Los Angeles, Calif.                                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, Tenn.                                    Hands On Nashville

10-27-07           New York, N.Y.                                   New York Cares

11-3-07             Miami, Fla.                                            Hands On Miami

12-2007            Baltimore, Md.                                      Baltimore Volunteer Central

In addition to the partnership with Hands On Network, GUIDING LIGHT will celebrate its anniversary on television and its commitment to volunteerism with three special episodes:

Wednesday, Jan. 3 -- This show features a "pay-it-forward" style episode that launches GUIDING LIGHT'S yearlong "Find Your Light" theme.  The fictional town of Springfield is mysteriously bestowed with good fortune, and the residents are surprised to learn how each of their acts of kindness was passed on to others which 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 on "Find Your Light" please visit http://www.findyourlight.net/.

Thursday, Jan. 25 -- This 70th Anniversary show will delve into the history of GUIDING LIGHT, beginning with its first days on radio in 1937 and then its transition to television in 1952.  The episode will connect GUIDING LIGHT'S present, past and future.  The show will feature some never before seen footage and feature our current cast playing some of the characters that helped launch what was then known as THE GUIDING LIGHT.

Wednesday, Feb. 14 -- This special Valentine's Day show, shot entirely on location on the Gulf Coast, will give viewers the chance to see the results of the work done there.  Viewers will get to see the cast not as the characters they play, but as themselves helping to rebuild communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

GUIDING LIGHT

GUIDING LIGHT, a Guinness World Record holder for being the longest-running show in broadcast history, has always stayed ahead of the times debuting on radio in 1937, transitioning to television in 1952 and becoming the first television show to podcast audio-only episodes in 2005.  As of January 25, 2007, GUIDING LIGHT will have broadcast 15,094 episodes on the CBS Television Network and its 17,554 episode overall.  Created by Irna Phillips, GUIDING LIGHT was -- and continues to be -- produced by Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc., the company who put the "soap" in the soap opera business.

The show tapes at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and can be seen weekdays on the CBS Television Network. (Check local listings). 

Hands On Network

Hands On Network brings people together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action.  Hands On Network is a growing of 64 volunteer organizations and a half million volunteers changing communities in and outside the United States.  Hands On Network creates and manages nearly 50,000 projects a year -- from building wheelchair ramps in San Francisco to teaching reading in Atlanta, to rebuilding Gulf Coast communities.  For more information on Hands On Network, please visit http://www.handsonnetwork.org/ or call (404) 979-2900.

On the web: www.cbs.com/daytime/gl/.

For more information visit http://www.findyourlight.net/ and for photos visit http://www.pgpphoto.com/.