Pam Long
Pamela K. Long is an American writer and executive producer, with multiple Emmy wins for CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 1983 to 1990. Long 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 went 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 former Texas Executive Producer Gail Kobe joined her. [3]
Long created several key characters on Guiding Light, like vixen Reva Shayne, ice queen Alexandra Spaulding, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper. She left her role as head writer in 1985, but returned for a second stint from 1987 to 1990.
Long went on to be the 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.
Positions held
- Head Writer: March 1983 to 1985, 1987 to 1990
- Co-Head Writer: 1985 to January 1986
- Head Writer: 1992 to January 15, 1993
- Actress: February 4, 1981 to December 31, 1982
- Head and Script Writer: January 1982 to December 31, 1982
- Script Writer: November 12, 1995
- Producer: November 12, 1995
- Producer
Awards and nominations
- Wins: 1986 & 1990, Best Writing, Guiding Light
- Nominations: 1985 & 1989, Best Writing, Guiding Light
Writers Guild of America Award
- Nominations: 1985 & 1989 seasons, Guiding Light; 1993 season, Santa Barbara
References
- "NBCUniversal Media Village". www.nbcumv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- Grunwald, D: "Who Shot Texas", pages 23–27. TV Guide (Canadian edition), March 5, 1983.
- https://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/01/flashback-pamela-long-hammer-1983.html
- 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 by Jane Rice |
Miss Alabama 1974 |
Succeeded by Susie Vaughan |
Writing history
| Preceded by Dorothy Ann Purser, Samuel D. Ratcliffe, Paul Rader & Gerald Flesher |
Head Writer of Texas January 4, 1982 - December 31, 1982 |
Succeeded by Show Ended |
| Preceded by Richard Culliton, Gary Tomlin and Carolyn Culliton |
Head Writer of Guiding Light June 1983 – February 1986 |
Succeeded by Jeff Ryder |
| Preceded by Gary Tomlin |
Head Writer of Search For Tomorrow May 1986 - December 26, 1986 |
Succeeded by Show Ended |
| Preceded by Joseph D. Manetta and Sheri Anderson |
Head Writer of Guiding Light Summer 1987 - December 1990 |
Succeeded by James E. Reilly, Nancy Curlee, Lorraine Broderick & Stephen Demorest |
| Preceded by Bridget and Jerome Dobson |
Head Writer of Santa Barbara January 1991 - January 1993 |
Succeeded by Show Ended |
| Preceded by Claire Labine & Matthew Labine |
Head Writer of One Life To Live March 1998 - December 1998 |
Succeeded by Megan McTavish |