One Life To Live. Karen Wolek (Judith Light) on the stand during Vicki's trial. OLTL.

A Daytime To Remember with Reba McEntire. 1979.

[@bdinchi]

Judith Light's testimony as Karen is considered by many the GREATEST performance in the history of soaps! I've heard that this performance is even studied in many acting classes.

[@Ladysugarshaft]

44 years later and I’m bawling in tears watching Judith’s performance. She’s simply the BEST💖🌷💖

[@jadawooten8922]

Here for it.

[@Elaine-uc6hd]

Judith Light was one of the best actresses on daytime, but this storyline and especially this scene took her to another level, it was amazingly electrictrfying, emotional and heartbreaking all in one, she was stellar 🌟💖💝. To this day it still brings a tear to my eye watching her tear her soul out in front of everyone.

[@Liligal1]

If I remember correctly, she won the Best Actress Daytime Emmy for this storyline. Well deserved!!!

[@lynnbaker2336]

Didn't she get am Emmy?

[@lynnbaker2336]

I just saw her break down for the first time. It's a pretty close call between that and Eileen Davidson on her knees begging John not to leave her. I think I would give it to Davidson, but it's close.

[@amyerickson2726]

Amen

[@daniellej7914]

Wow Angela Bowers Judge Donnelly

[@americanitalianisrael4008]

ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTING SCENE IN TV HISTORY. THE COURT SCENE WITH JUDITH LIGHT SUPERB ACTING.

[@triciajohansen3027]

She was AMAZING!!!!!

[@vietpir]

@@triciajohansen3027 she’s a fascinating actress

[@jc9716]

@DraperScott Misogynistic much?! Obviously you've never been put into a position like that! I'd say she was doing a very REALISTIC job! Her EMMY she earned from that scene bears witness!!!!!!

[@stacydetwiler1475]

@Draper Scott Totally agree with you.

[@grammyj17988]

@Jeremy Dowdy ~ every time I see her on SVU, I think of this HISTORIC scene !!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Judah98]

Say what you will... Judith Light killed this storyline! 💯

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

Yes, her acting is superb.....raw, genuine emotion right on the surface. Bravo !!

[@vietpir]

Karen Wolek was hilarious!

[@njpubadjuster3710]

@@vietpir what's so funny?

[@vietpir]

@@njpubadjuster3710 the way she was yelling in court and what she said.

[@njpubadjuster3710]

@@vietpir it was a dramatic scene where she almost broke down. There was nothing hilarious about it.

[@cfconant]

I'll never forget this performance. Judith Light is one of my favorite actresses of all time.

[@brookehanley3659]

So glad she got to move on in Prime Time with “Who's the Boss”. Her talent did not go unnoticed

[@vietpir]

Because she was so hilarious

[@lagunn327]

I remember this like it was yesterday. I was a HS senior. I will be 61 in 1 month and Judith Light shook the Daytime TV World!❤️

[@butterflycomb]

The soap writers today can't hold a candle to way back when.

[@lorireece1970]

I don’t even watch them anymore

[@parthetis74]

True. Writers today keep scenes shorter and the dialogue very minimalist..

[@debbiemiller9599]

I will never forget watching this. it was so moving and emotional. It also led to something of legend in our family. As I was recounting to my mother what had happened, my little brother (who gave me crap all the time about watching soaps) piped up from the other room, "Oh gosh, what did Larry say??"🤣

[@jamescamel700]

This scene will go down in history....As the greatest scene ever!!!

[@rachelmabe1679]

This put Judith Light on the map.

[@timothyrollins3856]

Yes it did

[@jenniferwellman5311]

They don’t make them like this anymore. ❤❤❤

[@glorymosbyfloyd3878]

That's a fact

[@scootover7]

I've been watching episodes of some older soaps, and I agree. I'm 15 minutes in at the moment and I'm enjoying this.

[@darrinshewchuk8576]

@@scootover7You ever watch the young and the restless.

[@scootover7]

@@darrinshewchuk8576 I haven't watched it recently, but my grandma use to watch it in the 80's and 90's, I'd sometimes in the 90's when I visit watch it with her, I would have never probably gotten into soaps if it wasn't for Knots Landing, the soap drama that started my interest in soap operas.

[@pamterlizzi2636]

In 1979 l worked for Kaplan's Department Store and my manager was Judith Light's mother Sue, When this wonderful episode came on We were glued to the television

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

Thank you so much for sharing that ! I actually met Judith's mom and dad in the early 80s at a Judith Light fan club gathering in NYC. I had pics taken with all that were there......Judith, Michael Storm, Robin Strasser, Brynn Thayer, Margaret Klenck. Brynn was such a warm and loving person as she wrapped her arms around us when we took pictures. A terrific lady !

[@asherdash12]

That's really cool!

[@Ladysugarshaft]

Wow! That’s so cool. How proud her parents must have been 🙌❤

[@katherinekerbow8344]

I always felt so bad for Karen(Judith) on the stand...she did what she had to do to protect her family...but in the end she stuck up for her friend and lost it all...one of the best soap stars ever!!!

[@themirrorsofmymind]

As amazing as Judith Light was in this, Anthony Call as _Herb Calison_ was a perfect match for driving the momentum of the questioning that pushes _Karen_ over the edge!

[@user-kb6iu4pc6f]

Absolutely!

[@SterlingFogg]

True!

[@LM-tl5bd]

I agree. And Vicki's reactions were incredible!

[@TheVintageSoul333]

I remember rushing home from school to watch this. Then bawling my eyes out for her. It was at that moment that I decided I wanted to be an actress. I didn't realize that dream but this performance stayed with me period and I've always been a fan. I'm glad she received a lot of success since but I swear Hollywood never put her in a movie that she deserved, she would have put Meryl Streep to shame if given the chance to compete for an Oscar

[@Ladysugarshaft]

💯❤️

[@user-kb6iu4pc6f]

I couldn't agree with you more!

[@teresa2845]

I remember getting home for the last 15 minutes of this soap... my mom had it on. I didn't know much about the characters and yet the performance had me in tears. That's just how good the acting was. To not really be invested in the characters and still be brought to tears. TH I was usually able to watch the entire episode. But in those days I really only watched 1 or 2 episodes during the week. I didn't watch a lot of tv back in those days. I make up for that now lol

[@TheVintageSoul333]

@@teresa2845 Exactly 💯!!!

[@dr0463]

me too! that storyline was what hooked me!

[@cinnasharon980]

Judith Light is AWESOME!!! Love the commercials!!

[@traygee403]

I remember this vividly...I was a teen and couldn't wait til she took the stand!!!!..Cried like a baby..Judith Light gave a heck of a performance!!

[@anthonyjohnson9403]

Who'd thought we'd see an Academy Award performance on soap opera TV? I was an unemployed teenager when this scene was broadcast. I'm so glad I didn't have a job😂😂😂

[@marksmith4128]

I was in high school when I saw the original episode in 1979 and did something I never did before watching television. I felt a few tears running down my face while watching Judith Light break down on the stand. Nothing like that has ever happened to me since.

[@vietpir]

Except when Judith Light was in the CBS tv-movie “Men Don’t Tell” in 1993. The movie about husband abuse.

[@grammyj17988]

I was at work with my small JVC portable in my desk drawer watching that scene !!! Powerful✊🏾

[@adrastos761]

@@vietpir yes, I remember that movie as well. I just didn't remember the name. She was excellent in that also.

[@orion8835]

I remember this being on the tv in 1979 when I was a child and my mother watching it. I remember being frightened and my mother crying and having no idea what was going on.

[@bernieappugliese2029]

Remember this like it was yesterday. It still moves me like crazy. And she is still giving incredible and award winning performances on stage and screen. Judith Light really is one of the greatest!

[@larkpraise]

I loved Larry Wolek and was sad when they phased him out of the show. I also liked that they brought Paul Martin from “All My Children” to play Vicki’s defense attorney.

[@JozarS.-ol4fj]

ABC still holds two of daytime TV's greatest scenes: Karen Wolek's stand on Viki Lord's trial on court (One Life to Live); and Luke and Laura's wedding (General Hospital)

[@Marcus_1001]

WOW!! This is the best quality of this legendary episode I have ever seen. Thank you so much for posting it. Judith Light gave the performance of her life during this storyline and the final scene of this episode is easily among the top 5 moments in soap history. All these many years later Judith's performance still astonishes me. It was so raw and powerful and I had never seen *anything* like that on television before.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

Thank you so much for recognizing the quality. All of my OLTL episodes on my channel are from old VHS video tapes that I transferred to digital. A few were over 40 years old and all of them held up very well. Believe it or not, the original VHS tapes are even better quality than what is on KZbin. I guess there's a slight deterioration of quality when going from VHS to digital and then digital uploaded to KZbin. Thanks again and I'm glad you're enjoying them. Check out the others !!! Any inferior quality was because of TV reception from when they were taped 30 - 40 years ago. Back then, we were just using rabbit ears for antennas. Haha.

[@Marcus_1001]

@@foryourviewingpleasure966 Oh yes, I remember those days very well. Oh, one of the rabbit ears broke? Just replace it with some tin foil. Ha!! I used to have tons of daytime TV on VHS tapes and I wish I had been half as diligent as you. They are such a treasure trove and a wonderful source of nostalgia. Thank you so much for all the work you put in to bring these to all of us. I truly appreciate it.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

@@Marcus_1001 You're very welcome. Any chance you still have those tapes stashed away ? Haha. If so, I can walk you through the process. It's much easier than you might think and is really cheap to do. You just would need a VCR and a computer.....plus a very cheap attachment.

[@Marcus_1001]

@@foryourviewingpleasure966 I may have some of them in a box somewhere, but I'm pretty certain most of them have been lost which makes me very sad. I thought about converting them a few years ago but VCRs are very hard to find. I guess I could try eBay.

[@mindaharris8092]

I will never forget this performance. Over 40 yrs ago and still is one of the most astonishing pieces of acting I've ever seen on TV...or anywhere

[@loveyu2778]

The best !! This show is such a huge part of my childhood.. i remember this was one of the most compelling dramatic convincing scenes i had ever seen up to that point..❤❤

[@MrStarguy17]

Jesus... this is powerful. I'm in tears watching this... great acting.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

I totally agree. It's so raw and the peak of emotion. A truly great actress !!

[@elfman5176]

One Life was NEVER Boring Best Soap Ever Could be Silly Very Dramatic But Always Fun

[@TerriMagoo]

I remember this SO MUCH!

[@Miss_Chick]

Amazing performance!

[@GenXorcist1976]

Fun Fact: Reba McEntire almost got an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her little stint hosting A Daytime to Remember. ❤ I LOVE that she hosted this series.

[@videofanatiq101]

JUDITH LIGHT IS JUST BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!

[@GanymedeBoy]

I still tear up at Karen's confession

[@mickey1271]

I remember watching this scene live.

[@kimberlywhitehead22]

I was 6 when this came out, so it didn't do much....when I was older and saw the special with Reba McIntire, WOW!!!! Judith light DID ALL OF THAT!!!

[@judydendy1697]

Watching this brought back so many memories. This was my favorite soap! I hate when they ended it.

[@efnaha9303]

I remember coming home from school and seeing my mother crying - this was amazing for it’s time. JL wasn’t afraid to go big and she owned it.

[@aprileast5576]

Omgoodness this was my favorite soap back in the day

[@Lifewithpersians]

Judith Light was brilliant in this part

[@mariasussman6683]

She was a gem

[@SterlingFogg]

Anthony Call was just perfect in this storyline. He deserved an Emmy.

[@gailreese4102]

One of the highlights of our Summer 1979! Judith Light was beyond awesome! Wow!!!

[@michaelschwab9806]

WOW,the crossover with All My Children's "Paul Martin" as a lawyer in the Llanview courtroom,this must have been the first "crossover" ever between Soap Opera characters appearing on other soaps.

[@johnbenzer5026]

not at all-AW and GL did crossovers in the 1960’s

[@marykeegan2606]

Steve Hardy from General Hospital was on OLTL in the very early days as a consultant when Meredith Lord was ill. Eileen Riley Siegel(Joe’s older sister) was on All My Children as a friend of Kate Martin(Dr Joe’s mother). Paul Martin may have served as a lawyer on a few other occasions as well. There may have been a few other crossovers, but I can’t remember them at the moment

[@29tenshi]

Great performance

[@LM-tl5bd]

No matter how many times you watch this, you just can’t get over Judith Light’s phenomenal, flawless performance! I’m completely engrossed every time!

[@Truthteller58-z3c]

Judith Light is the child of the Bud Light family 👪 and strange that she would be the best actress on Soap history ever .

[@cidweinberg]

“You want more filth? You want more slime? You want more names? I’ll give you another name TALBOLT HUDDLESTON!!!! He was my first John”…LOVE THIS. The scene after this is gets even better when Pat finds out TALBOT ran over her son.

[@kevinshelton9103]

WOW!!! I have said before Judith Light was and is amazing. I wish I had watched OLTL back then. I did start to watch in 1981 December when Olympia tried to kill Samantha over Asa. OLTL was special and I miss this show. Note to the great Gerald Anthony-Mario/Marco. He sadly left us too soon by his own hand. Those were the days and why SOAPS can be great.

[@Tessa-vz1qb]

Oh my goodness, Judith light simply is just her own kind of brend. Just wow, I can clearly say this is one of the best acting performances i've ever seen.

[@tonywoods3149]

Absolutely loved Karen in this episode..and her character overall

[@judydendy1697]

I was so engrossed in this soap, i dreamed about it and Karen was testifying, I was crying yelling at the TV, saying don't say that Karen and bawling with her. I realized I had a serious problem!

[@adriannegrillo8394]

I was so engrossed in this episode with Karen on the stand. I started watching in the early 70's. She was excellent!!!

[@kimakotrotman6860]

Judith Licht turned that scene OUT😝!

[@Rb1330]

If this was a movie, Judith Light would have won the Oscar.

[@clairmarie3130]

I still remember watching this lol, but I cant remember what i had for breakfast 😂😂😂

[@deloreswillis9224]

I loved KAREN♥️

[@parthetis74]

I love that Reba did the intro. I still we had show called A Daytime to Remember, lol!

[@mocowan6642]

This is why Judith Light deservedly won an Emmy!

[@nattyps3160]

I started watching oltl in 89 so I only knew Judith as Angela on who's the boss. Then I was reading people's top 100 moments ever on all of TV & was stunned Judith was on oltl as Karen. I watched this for the first time & I sobbed. Such a tour de force by licht. I felt so sad for her having to reveal something so degrading about urself in front of yr husband & the whole town.

[@maureengilligo1960]

Outstanding actress. My late sister went to elementary school with her in Trenton NJ

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

Oh, wow !! That's so cool. And yes, she is from Trenton. I'm from New Jersey myself and I met her a few times in the early 80s at a few fan club gatherings in NYC. Great memories.

[@sammidizzle5599]

It’s strange noticing that, even almost in 1980, they were STILL using the 1960s-like mid-Atlantic accents

[@ScottRandolph-dd7dr]

😂 greetings from coastal Mississippi. Watched One Life to Live . Llanview ,Pa. My favourite soap. Watched from 1984- series end. 😢🎉❤

[@intheredcold9216]

This was a bit before my time as far as I was too young to understand a lot of it but I do remember Judith Light and bits and pcs of this. I'm glad to be able to see it now as an adult.

[@karenreynolds349]

Judith Light was ond.f the best criers on the Soaps!!! Sure do miss OLTL. Grew up watching it!!!!

[@levibrook3272]

Young Andrea Evans as Tina 49:14

[@citydweller99]

Back when revelations like this were large in scope.. the reactions of the courtroom was an important element that made her confession impactful

[@scootover7]

This is incredible, I'm shocked I never heard my family talk about this storyline, then again they watch soaps on NBC and CBS.

[@djm2985]

She did that! I never watched this soap but love Judith. And I'm in aww and feel every emotion. The part that grabs me is how she puts her hand up and says you don't have to tell them I will with her head held high while barely being able to get her words out. Then she looks at her husband with adoration before reviling her secret. Great great job Judy!!!!

[@MrCraigblaze]

Thanks for the Upload !! I remember when ABC reran this Between The City being cancelled in March 1997..And Port Charles debuting in June 1997..Nice to see the whole episode !! XD

[@MrCraigblaze]

And Judith 's real life husband was on Knots landing in 1989-90 !!

[@Atrain34]

Omg, I remember watching this soap with my mom and grandmother. Omg

[@Atrain34]

I remember this episode I had to be 6-or 7y/o

[@maggieharper2190]

I wish she would come back to a really good juicy soap character. Preferably General Hospital, but they would have to write something worthy of her talent and playing against others that could match her level of talent & skill.

[@seanmcmonagle4012]

Came here after listening to her interview with Guy Raz. I only knew of her on Who's the Boss? and her fantastic performance on Poker Face

[@JayeNicki]

Judith Light was always a great actress. She brings so much emotions to her performances.

[@maria7689]

I’ve never seen this! I started watching in 1980.

[@LERONMORTON-fz8em]

JUDITH LIGHT WAS STELLAR IN THESE SCENES 🤗🤗 I LUV THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN 😍 WHAT A FANTASTIC ACTRESS 😂👍🤗 SHE DESERVED THAT EMMY AND MORE 🧐 BEST ACTRESS 🤗🤗

[@cindycasal-zack5335]

I remember this to this day

[@deborahconkle6822]

Judith Light was absolutely brilliant in this part.

[@sparklecanada0112]

So many A+ Actors got their start on OLTL. I often bring that up to people who mock or dismiss Soap Operas. I miss OLTL. It was amazing before it got cancelled. Who knows who Today would be getting their start and well deserved professional exposure if it was still being filmed?🤔🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏿‍♂️

[@dawnnaavelino5595]

She still is a greatest actress love Judith Light

[@marshamariner7897]

Wow...om 70...boy do i remember Karen....not just this scene but MANY others as well✌️✌️✌️✌️😍

[@terriwilkerson4404]

I remember watching this… I was 13!!!!

[@bubblette9865]

Looked this up to recall what Judith Light looked like back then. I'm watching "Julia" (HBO MAX series on Julia Child) and Judith Light is excellent as Blanche Knopf. Also wanted to note that the jingle for Best Foods mayonnaise was a surprise - I always knew it as Hellmann's (being from the East coast). Who knew they were the same!

[@vietpir]

45:53 now isn’t a fact, that there was a great deal more to your relationship with Marco Dane than you ever admitted? 45:57 Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

[@monicabrill5821]

I remember the name Marco Dane but for some reason I was thinking that he was killed in the mid 80's because I was only 5 in 1979. I would watch all the ABC soaps with my grandma's and my mom.

[@LifeOutsideTheBubble]

She really does stare a tough part in the eye and decide to jump in with both feet. Unafraid to have all eyes on her. It actually carries through to who’s the boss unafraid to be completely embarrassed.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Attorney Paul Martin is a crossover character from the Dr. Joe Martin family from Pine Valley - All My Children too. Oops- Reba explains this late in the video.

[@MontrealNorth]

A long time ago in a beautiful land far away call 1979 the last year of the Disco era the 70s was fading quickly I grew up in the 80s and we're not supposed to wish for the old days but I don't know who out there don't wish for those days sometimes The Young and the Restless Guiding Light One Life to live General Hospital Hospital another world Days of Our Lives wow As the World Turns search for tomorrow the edge of night the doctors so many good ones are gone but Judith Light have mercy 1979❤❤❤❤❤ if you're old enough to know y'all know these were some good days gone by to the people that we have lost😪 Whew humph"❤ that know about these days back then have mercy Jesus when people were proud to have a TV baby❤❤❤✌️🌹😪❤️ and Miss Chancellor the queen of TV The Young and the Restless nobody still holds a candle to her today❤ if you don't know who she is look her up

[@clarkshann]

Wow! You would have thought Karen was on trial.

[@Bookwasbetter]

Anyone else here because of Gary Janetti's book Do You Mind if I Cancel?

[@heddalee]

Paul's tie is horrifying.

[@chardear5824]

Moms like you choose Jiff Choose Jiff ❤❤❤❤ commercials was everything

[@carolbuscher3862]

She was awesome 😅miss OLTL

[@victoriawood4514]

Funny how I forget she played on a soap opera! So used to her being Angela on Who's the boss.

[@vietpir]

48:40 “you want me to say that I’m lower than the lowest piece of scum?”

[@askmsmo6337]

Best acting ever!

[@janetevis1735]

I miss Jacqueline Courtney she was in alot of soaps

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

I feel the same way. She was so beautiful and brought such class and elegance to her roles. Check out the OLTL episode on my channel where Pat and Bo are in Paris. So glad I videotaped that over 40 years ago. Haha.

[@tjames9698]

A shame Pat was never ever brought back again.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

I totally agree. I thought she brought such class and style to the show. And I loved Robin Strasser's tribute to her after she had passed away........ "During the years the show (Another World) was at it's all time height, and set industry-wide standards, it was due in large part to Jacquie Courtney's indelibly romantic incandescence."

[@njpubadjuster3710]

@@foryourviewingpleasure966 its a shame producer Harding Lemay felt it necessary to badmouth her acting on Another World.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

@@njpubadjuster3710 Yes, that was unnecessary. And when producer Paul Rauch tried that with an article in Soap Opera Weekly, Jacqueline Courtney fired back with a response that was published soon afterward in the same publication.

[@njpubadjuster3710]

@@foryourviewingpleasure966 I don't remember that. Good for her. If her acting were so bad, why did OLTL allow her to play a dual role? Her sister, Maggie, who was after Clint.

[@foryourviewingpleasure966]

@@njpubadjuster3710 Yes, I recently found the magazine on line for practically nothing and purchased it. I'll see if I can scan the page or something and post it for you. It is an interesting read. Just wish we had a contact to get more episodes of OLTL with her in them.

[@adrianbush8873]

Whoo That Was intense

[@maria7689]

She is and Gad always been amazing.