Join the GL Gals in Walk Across the U.S.

Beginning October 1, the entire female cast of Guiding Light joins thousands of women and men on a 31-city virtual walk across the United States to raise funds and awareness for the Gal to Gal Foundation (www.galtogal.org), which assists patients and families battling stage IV breast cancer. Kim Zimmer serves as team captain.

The actresses encourage fans to register by creating their own “Team Guiding Light” gal who can walk alongside them. GL cast members will also attend a New York City launch event at the showroom of eco-designer Robin Wilson on October 2.

Guiding Light's Ex-Drew Joins All-Star Cast in Lifetime Movie

Tammy Blanchard (pictured above) has created quite a little career for herself since leaving her role as Drew Jacobs on Guiding Light in 2000. She won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress as a young Judy Garland in the miniseries Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. She then appeared in various motion pictures, including opposite Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd. She also starred in the indie movie Bella, which took top prize at the Toronto Film Festival. So what's next for Blanchard?

Tune in the Lifetime channel on Oct. 18 at 9 p.m., and you can catch Blanchard in a very important film, Living Proof, about the real-life doctor (played by Harry Connick Jr.) who helped develop a crucial breast-cancer drug that would save thousands of women.

The large cast also includes Jennifer Coolidge, Amanda Bynes, Angie Harmon, Regina King and Bernadette Peters among others.

Interview: Why Allyson Rice Quit Her Day(time) Job

Many soap fans will remember Allyson Rice as the beautiful and ballsy Connor Jamison Walsh — the gutsy go-getter who took her rightful place at Walsh Enterprises from 1990-’97, much to the chagrin of Lucinda Walsh. After leaving As the World Turns and starring in a couple of shows here and there, Allyson dropped off the Hollywood map — and she couldn’t be happier about it.

After Allyson left the public eye, she took an interesting path. “The year I left was such a devastating year,” Allyson explains. “(My dismissal from ATWT) was so sudden, and it happened really badly. They let me know late Friday night after I was finished taping my scenes that my replacement was coming on Monday.

“I no longer had an agent; I hadn’t had one for quite a while, because I didn’t feel I needed one anymore. So I wrote to the two casting directors I knew, and one called me in for the Timecop job. I had to move out to L.A. again, but I really didn’t want to leave New York. But I got the job, and it was really exciting. Then, literally 48 hours after getting to L.A., after moving my family out there, they told me they redid the whole thing, and rewrote and eliminated some characters, one being mine.”

After allowing herself some time to wallow and not knowing what to do, Allyson came to a realization. “I made the decision I was going to like it out here this time,” Allyson says. “I decided I have to look for the light and make a conscious choice to be happy. I got a few jobs, but I was finding that I was enjoying myself more when I was not working, when I was not acting. During makeup for a Love Boat reunion audition, I realized there has got to be more to life than this.”

So Allyson took some time off to find out who she really was and what she wanted out of this life. She had attended a wilderness-survival retreat back on the East Coast, and she wanted to explore that further. “It dealt with Native American teachings and philosophy — it’s back to earth, and very healing and grounding. I did a few programs and a vision quest. I was into yoga and meditation, and I got certified to teach in that.”

While Allyson was gaining much insight into her spiritual life, she was losing someone in her personal life. “By that time, my marriage had broken up. My husband was not into the path my life was taking.”

Allyson went to the Earth-Heart Institute of Vision and Healing in Topanga, Calif., for her vision quest. “I was surrendering into a difficult time — knowing that something is bigger here and trusting my heart to find it. Going from soap operas to wilderness survival was certainly a big leap.”

Allyson took another leap of sorts at Earth-Heart, for that is where she met her current husband, Malcolm, with whom she’s been married for eight years.

Making the leap from soap-opera actress to life and spiritual coach might not seem like the most natural transition to some, but that choice has made all the difference in Allyson's life.

Aside from co-owning the Earth-Heart Institute of Vision and Healing with her husband, Allyson has branched off to create her own company, The Total Human. Allyson explains: “When I started at Earth-Heart, I developed the ‘Lighten Up’ program as well as the two-week retreat. I’m the type of person that I get an idea, and I jump on it. Malcolm is different in that he moves much more slowly — that sometimes creates conflict. So I broke away from Earth-Heart so I’d have the freedom to develop my programs the way I want.”

Some of the programs The Total Human offers include women’s retreats, the occasional vision quest, energy and healing, and a creativity program. Spiritual awakenings aren’t the exception in these classes, either — they tend to be the norm.

“Major breakthroughs during classes happen all the time. What is special about these classes is we give people experiences — it’s not just a lecture where you are taking notes. Transformation happens when you’re in the energy of it and doing it. Even if someone isn’t comfortable with actively participating, she still will take something away from the class.”

Allyson offers a women’s retreat every spring in Sedona, Ariz. “People from all walks of life come. The land is very powerful; it’s an amazing place. We teach them about women and connecting with the Earth. We have always had at least five generations of women attending. No one is required to believe anything or change her beliefs.

“Even the most skeptical people have the greatest time,” Allyson continues. “When they leave, the women are amazed by how much they’ve transformed, how close they feel with the rest of the women. They are surprised by how it feels to be in a group of joyful, supportive women who listen to you. People leave with a wide-open heart and a brand-new perspective.”

About a year and a half ago, Allyson started channeling her creative energy into making jewelry. “I combined energy healing with jewelry. It’s amazing, joyful work to let creativity move through you. I am also collaborating with artist Amy Moran Scott to create coloring books for women with inspirational and beautiful pictures as another creative outlet for women.”

Allyson’s soap-opera life seems almost foreign to her now. “It’s like a different life. When you move onto this path, for a while what you were doing has to fall away. It comes full circle — some things come back into your life, some relationships come back. When those things come back, it’s like seeing everything for the first time. But I am much happier now than I was 10 or 15 years ago.”

Don’t expect to see Allyson back on your TV screen anytime soon, either. “What I don’t miss about acting is it’s a business where you are not valued — especially women — the older and wiser you get. In your 30s, you are over the hill. In the area I am in now, the more experience you have behind you, that is really valued. To go from one to the other certainly was a drastic, and pleasant, change.”

To learn more about Allyson Rice and her personal-growth workshops, go to thetotalhuman.com.

NS Sneak Peak

Episode 210 ("Brothers & Sisters") – Leo and Kyle are caught off guard when their mother comes to town unannounced. Meanwhile, Claire confesses a secret, Patrick is stuck in an awkward situation with Epiphany and Toussaint, Kyle meets an intriguing patient (special guest star Chad Allen), and Robert comes to see Robin in a new light on General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

Days: Such a Tease!

NEXT WEEK:

Nicole finds out that she is pregnant.

Theo has a breakthrough in his therapy session.

Max and Melanie suspect each other of murdering their father.

Abe contemplates running for Mayor.

Kayla (Mary Beth Evans, pictured) replaces Lexie as Chief of Staff at the hospital.

Thursday – Kate undergoes a biopsy to see if she has lung cancer.

Friday – Morgan walks in on Philip kissing Chloe.

GH: Such a Tease!

Sonny takes a stroll down memory lane.
Sam continues to play Jerry.
Lulu fears she might have been wrong about Laura all along.

Carly persuades Jason to escort her to Sonny’s wedding.
Anthony offers Trevor a chance to redeem himself.
Someone overhears Lulu’s confession.

Kate fears that she and Sonny are cursed.
Jason plans a surprise for Elizabeth.
Lucky (Greg Vaughan, pictured) tells Johnny to back off Lulu.

Carly’s tickled to learn the truth about Kate’s past.
Nadine is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anthony pays Sonny an ominous visit.

Sonny and Kate prepare to walk down the aisle.
Elizabeth is on cloud nine, thanks to Jason.
Johnny sneaks Lulu out of Shadybrook to take her to the wedding.

OLTL: Such a Tease!

Brody (Mark Lawson, pictured) won’t let Shane go without a fight.
Jared is closer to Natalie than he realizes.
Marty reassures Todd of her feelings for him.

Rex and Gigi make a chilling discovery.
Tess takes joy in tormenting Natalie.
Dorian isn’t as in control as she thinks she is.

Brody has no intention of giving up Shane.
Langston’s fate in is the hands of a judge.
Blair won’t back down where Starr is concerned.

Brody starts to crack under the pressure.
Things could be looking up for Cristian.
Dorian is her own worst enemy when she doesn’t get what she wants.

Rex, Bo and Gigi make a horrifying discovery about Brody.
Langston’s friends rally around her in her time of need.
Cole catches Clint with Ray.

AMC: Such a Tease!

Erica (Susan Lucci, pictured) can’t ignore the effect Adam has on her.
Zach and Kendall face the problems in their marriage.
Pete undergoes a life-changing experience.

JR is suspicious of the kinder Adam he sees before him.
Greenlee ends up with a tainted bottle of Bella.
Tad gets closer to uncovering Jesse’s secret.

Greenlee makes a startling admission due to the tainted perfume.
Zach and Kendall continue to grow further apart.
Angie begins to see Randi in a new light.

Ryan takes actions when he finds a gun in Annie’s room.
Jesse confesses his secret to Angie.
Greenlee is conflicted over her feelings for Ryan.

Greenlee takes her anger out on Annie.
Babe wonders what Adam and Pete are up to.
Angie asks Tad to stop investigating Jesse.

Save the Date for a “Day of Days”

PRESS RELEASE:

STARS OF NBC’S DAYTIME DRAMA ‘DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ TO MEET FANS AT CITYWALK AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD THIS NOVEMBER!


WHO: Stars of Days of Our Lives (names TBD)

WHAT: DAY OF DAYS

Meet & Greet, Q&A and many more exciting activities with your favorite Days of Our Lives stars!

WHERE: CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood
1000 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

WHEN: Saturday, November 1, 2008

Time: 10:00 am

Y&R: Such a Tease!

• Michael is shocked to meet a new member of his family who will forever change the way he views his father.

• While Colleen hopes Billy will help her get closer to Daniel, Billy has other intentions.

• Phyllis (Michelle Stafford, pictured) pushes Sharon to her boiling point as she tries to convince her that Jack is lying to her.

• Victor collapses, and Nick and Victoria struggle to do what’s best for him.

• Jack and Adam will stop at nothing to find out what happened to Victor in Mexico.

B&B: Such a Tease!

* Stephanie goes to great lengths to protect what is hers.

* Owen's hopes are dashed.

* Marcus puts his relationship with the Forresters on the line to help his mother.

* Nick (Jack Wagner, pictured) learns that Taylor has been hiding information about Jack.

* Eric gets an earful.

GL: Such a Tease!

• Sparks fly when Dinah enlists Grady's help.

• Daisy finds herself in serious danger.

• Olivia comes to Natalia's rescue.

• Lizzie and Bill are left stunned after Alan (Ron Raines, pictured) wakes up.

ATWT: Such a Tease!

• Lily and Holden (Jon Hensley, pictured) make love.

• Janet fears she will never be able to compete with Carly.

• Meg makes a shocking discovery.

• Alison succumbs to another kiss with Chris.