Funny how the universe sometimes lines up and minds think alike, isn't it? Guiding Light is in the thoughts of a lot of people these days. Bloggers, soap journalists and industry watchers — not to mention the writers, cast and crew of GL — are all on pins and needles about this 72 year old institution. The writing has been on the wall among commentators on the Internet and in the soap press for some time regarding GL's maybe/probably/likely cancellation, which would essentially signal the final march along daytime's trail of tears as the end of the genre.

The signs are obvious and ominous: GL has been hovering at a 1.5 rating for the last few months, a situation exacerbated by a genre-crushing free fall in advertising revenues, which have in turn led to massive budget cuts by the networks for all the shows. If GL doesn't get its act together by the Ides of April, as our own Jamey Giddens so aptly put it, the oldest series on broadcast television will bite the dust. However, there is hope. As has been reported here, Guiding Light needs the minimum of a steady 1.8 rating to avoid getting the ax.

Back to minds thinking alike: Just as I was finalizing this list, Mr. Giddens posted his "Top 10 Last Ditch Stunts To Save Guiding Light," followed by Spauldingfield's awesome GL promo posted by Luke Kerr. Because of their excellent efforts I almost decided to not post these recommendations, but the situtation at Guiding Light is so important to those of us who love the show that I felt it was more important to contribute to the call to keep GL on the air and risk repetition than not do so. Therefore, consider these considerations an addition to their efforts. GL needs viewers not tomorrow, but today and here are ten reasons to tune in right now! READ MORE

With rumors of the talented Rick Hearst (Ric) leaving General Hospital during May Sweeps heating up, this fan of his Guiding Light character Alan-Michael Spaulding (He was the second adult AM after Carl T. Evans) can't help but wonder if Hearst could be the salve the ailing P&G sudser needs to nurse its wounds?

With leading man Ricky Paull Goldin (ex-Gus) out, phenom Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan) only popping up for the occassional blink-and-you-missed it short term arc and rumors of Beth Ehlers and Marcy Rylan (Harley and Lizzie) jumping ship, Guiding Light definitely needs a stabilizing force to rebuild the show around, who better than Hearst?

Hearst hasn't met a role he couldn't make work, from Julie Williams' snarky grandson Scotty on Days of Our Lives, to Brooke's preppy, smitten, faux-hubby Whip on the Bold and the Beautiful, Hearst has turned one solid performance after another. He even made us have sympathy for the Devil aka deranged rapist Matt Clark on Young and the Restless when he assumed that role originated by Eddie Cibrian. But it was on Guiding Light that Hearst did his best work, opposite the legendary Beverly McKinsey (ex-Alexandra), Melina Kanakaredes (ex-Eleni, GL/now Stella, CSI: New York) and Sherry Stringfield (ex-Blake/ ex-Susan, ER).

Even after his original leads retired or left the soap for primetime success, Hearst continued to shine as AM. His character's comedic, sexually-charged scheming with Liz Keifer, who replaced Stringfield as Blake, were some of the best stories of the Jill Farren Phelps era of the show. Not to mention AM's pairing with Harley's little sister Lucy (Sonia Satra) which elevated both characters into supercouple status. Maybe Satra could be persuaded to come back with Hearst? If not, Keifer as Blake is still there, just dying to be used. Could you imagine a Blake/Alan-Michael/Dinah/Mallet quadrangle with Rick Hearst as the anchor? Butta, I tell ya, Butta!