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

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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

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

Positions held

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Guiding Light

  • Head Writer: March 1983 to November 1985, July 1987 to December 1990
  • Co-Head Writer: December 1985 to January 1986

One Life to Live

  • Head Writer: March 1998 to December 1998 [2]

Santa Barbara

  • Head Writer: February 1992 to January 1993

Search for Tomorrow

  • Executive Story Consultant: May 1986 to December 1986 [3]; [4]

Texas

  • Actress: February 1981 to December 1982
  • Head and Script Writer: October 1982 to December 1982

Her Hidden Truth

  • Script Writer: November 1995
  • Producer: November 1995

Second Noah

  • Producer

Awards and nominations

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Daytime Emmy Awards

  • 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

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  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.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Alabama
1974
Succeeded by

Writing history

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Preceded by
Paul Rader & Gerald Flesher
Head writer of Texas
October 1982 - December 1982
Succeeded by
Show ended
Preceded by Head writer of Guiding Light
June 1983 – February 1986
Succeeded by
Jeff Ryder
Preceded by Head writer of Search For Tomorrow
July 1986 - December 1986
Succeeded by
Show ended
Preceded by
Joseph D. Manetta and Sheri Anderson
Head writer of Guiding Light
July 1987 - December 1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head writer of Santa Barbara
February 1992 - January 1993
Succeeded by
Show ended
Preceded by Head writer of One Life to Live
March 1998 - December 1998
Succeeded by