Claire Labine

Claire Labine is an American soap opera writer. She received Writers Guild of America, East's Evelyn F. Burkey Award for contributions that have brought honor and dignity to writers everywhere.

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Although she originally aspired to be an actress, Labine eventually became a critically-acclaimed writer. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, she joined the writing staff of Captain Kangaroo. After writing for the show for two years, she was fired in 1968.

Related Topics:
University of Kentucky - Captain Kangaroo

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Labine's first foray into daytime was as a dialogue writer for the CBS soap opera Where the Heart Is. After only a year at the show, she was promoted to the post of headwriter in 1971, along with fellow writer Paul Avila Mayer. Although the duo brought up the show's ratings their stint at the show ended in 1973, when CBS chose to take the show off the air.

Related Topics:
CBS - Where the Heart Is - Paul Avila Mayer

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Labine was did not remain out of work for long. Soon after the end of Where the Heart Is, she became headwriter of another CBS soap, Love of Life. Once again she was paired with Mayer. The ratings for the show rose, which brought them to the attention of rival network ABC.

Related Topics:
Love of Life - ABC

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ABC lured both Labine and Mayer away from CBS and offered them their own show. Together, Labine and Mayer created Ryan's Hope, which made its debut in 1975. While they were writing it, Ryan's Hope won six Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing and two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Program. In addition to this, Labine won a Writers Guild Award for each year that she wrote the show.

Related Topics:
Ryan's Hope - Daytime Emmy Award - Writers Guild Award

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After ratings began to sag, Labine and Mayer were dismissed from the show in 1982 and replaced by their associate headwriter, Mary Ryan Munisteri. ABC asked both of them back in early 1983 when it became apparent that Munisteri's writing was not improving the ratings. Labine and Mayer were fired once again later that year.

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During her absence from Ryan's Hope, Labine developed a soap for CBS that was entitled Celebration. This soap never made it to the air.

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In 1987, Labine was asked by ABC to come back to Ryan's Hope. She accepted ABC's offer and remained with the show until 1989, when the show was cancelled.

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After RHs demise, Labine wrote several television movies.

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In 1993 Labine returned to daytime as headwriter of ABC's General Hospital. She brought the show much critical acclaim, and won her seventh Emmy for Outstanding Writing for her work on the show. She chose to depart the show in early 1996.

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Labine was not gone from daytime for long. In late 1996, she was made headwriter of ABC's One Life to Live. She remained with the show until early 1998.

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Most recently, Labine had a short stint at CBS' Guiding Light. She was headwriter of the show from 2000 through 2001.

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