P.J.

Thanks, everyone. I have the ATWT 40th anniversary book, and found it very useful. I wouldn't be expecting complete accuracy.

I thought Harley was great---until the Gus Aitoro years. Ugh.

They talk about how slow soaps are. Both Tony & Annabelle and Billy and Vanessa were fast-track romances in the summer of 83.

Does anyone have the Guiding Light history books? Are they any good? 

I think Steve Basset played Det. Scott on GL in 1983, not 1999. I just saw him after Mark Evans was arrested. 

17 hours ago, slick jones said:

 

Thanks, I'm planning to make additions and corrections this weekend. 

 

Again, thanks for this marvelous list. I couldn't find the name of Vanessa's mother or first husband anywhere!

10 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

Whether that ended up being an asset or a detriment depends on each viewer's point of view.

Aside from Trish, whom I liked a lot, I never grew to care about any of the Lewises.

I disliked Beth, under both actresses.

Reva's eating of the show became unbearable to me.

Alexandra was marvelous while BM was there, but once Marj Dusay took over, I felt the character became an abrasive and one-dimensional irritant.

Not to be a Negative Nellie (I know, I know: too late, LOL!), but IMHO, of the show's final 27 years, I only found about about five of them to be worthwhile.

 

Of all the actresses that got shoved aside for Reva, I think Rebecca Holland is the one that surprises me the most. She's talented, gorgeous, and the most practical Lewis...and yet fades into the background. Trish and Vanessa should've been teaming up to keep Reva in check from day one.

3 hours ago, chrisml said:

I have to put a word in for the Sonni/Solita. I adored it, and Michelle Forbes was robbed of a Best Actress emmy for her work. She was phenomenal. Like Cynthia Watros, she came in and took the focus away from Zimmer's Reva through her acting. 

Michelle and Joe Breen were great. The story was a quagmire.

1 hour ago, vetsoapfan said:

What killed me was that for so many years, the show treated Reva as The Irresistible Sex Goddess of Every Man's Desire. Um...no. 

Ugh...right? and none of them are really allowed to get over her. Even Billy. RME. She slept his way through his family

1 hour ago, vetsoapfan said:

LOL! That's so true: there were an overabundance of irrelevant, disposable, and ultimately forgettable newbies in the mid-1980s.

If the entire series were magically available to stream somewhere, I could see myself watching up through 1984, while my old favorites were still featured, but I'd pass right over the "forgettable newbie" period, and pick up again when Holly and then Roger came back.

Being able to take a break from Reva for a few years was such a relief. At the beginning, I probably could have taken her in small doses, but when she ate the show, I grew to loathe her. The painfully stupid stories foisted upon her (Reva the Ghost! Reva the Amish Amnesiac! Reva the San Cristobelian Queen! Reva the Clone!) did the character no favors!

LOL...I kinda fell down the utube rabbit hole. It seems '86-'88 isn't anyone's real favorite, it's harder finding shows from that time. On one hand it's hard, I'd like to see more of the Vanessa/Dinah story. But obnoxious Chelsea? No thanks!! 

One thing I have notice re:Reva---everyone puts up with her sh*t. Everyone has to be made to understand that Reva's not a bitch, she's just "full of life". OTOH Nola and Vanessa start out the same way, manipulating their way through people's lives, but *surprise* no one lets them get away with it. They evolve. Reva's the same human wrecking ball she was when she first came to town. A little less gold-digger, but barely any wiser.

And re: the discussion a few pages back about Vanessa/Quint---Vanessa's never attracted to Quint. She may have vamped at him, but no more than she did anyone else at the time. She spends 1982 chasing Mark and especially Tony---she's jealous almost to the point of obsession trying to get back in his bed right up until Wired for Sound closes. She quickly puts it together that Quint is her half brother. (Henry was looking for someone, and she found a note of Carrie's referencing an illegitimate son) She does threaten Quint with going and telling Henry that he seduced her knowing she was his sister. And Vanessa misleads Helena about why she's pumping her for info on Quint. But there's no hint of romance going on. 

This is utterly fabulous. I can't imagine the time it took to compile it.

A couple of things:

ATWT

Sage Snyder didn't fake illness to get to the Miss Snowflake pageant. She lied about caring about pageants to get Jack and Carly to take her to Detroit, hoping that family time would reignite their romance.

Jack's name is Jack, and it's not short for Jacob. He and Carly had the baby that Julia Larrabee kidnapped christened "Jack Joseph Snyder Jr". No one ever implied that his name was anything other than Jack until Katie opened her mouth to name her son. 

Guiding Light--

It's Maeve Kinkead. I think you threw a "c" in there. 

I do agree---'85-87 is a low point, and not surprisingly, most of the new hires were disposable and forgotten. And the '88 writers strike that brought us the interminable Sonni/Solita saga didn't help. Thank God Zimmer left in 90 and allowed the show to breathe again.

I wish there was more '75-80 online. I'd love to see more Jackie/Justin and the Andy Norris blackmailing scandal. That seems like good soapy times. 

Ugh...the influx of wannabe Fabios. 

22 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

Just out of curiosity, what year did you begin watching the show? In my personal experience (and of course this doesn't hold true for every single viewer; opinions always vary among soap fans), many folks who enjoyed the period of TGL before Gail Kobe took over as producer in 1983 had a strongly negative reaction to the sweeping structural and cast changes.

Did you continue to enjoy the show throughout the 1980s? Again, just curious. I know there are viewers who did.

I grew up on CBS soaps. I can remember when the line up included Love of Life, SFT, Y&R with the Brooks' sisters, ATWT and GL. They were always on. My GL memories go back vaguely to Adam and Barbara, Sara, and when Alan, Jackie, Justin, Rita and Evie were new in town. The first story that really hooked me was Nola/Kelly/Morgan. So '80 to '83 really feels like the start of "my" GL because so much of the acting core remains intact to (mostly) the end of the show. Ross, Vanessa/Henry, and Josh weave in and out of the show without being recast (aside from the occasional sickness or maternity leave). Phillip/Rick/Beth/Mindy drive story for years. Alan and Roger are presences even if not on-screen. 

I didn't really think about it critically then (only getting to watch consistently during the summer break) and now I don't feel qualified to when a lot of what's available is chopped up or missing large chunks of time. I have been amazed that the location shoots have such long tracking scenes. It feels like Nola spends forever underwater in St Croix, and really does nearly drown before Quint hauls her up on the beach.

I know the '84 changes are sweeping, and in general, I wasn't impressed with the Calla/Jessie/Simon and invasion of the Shaynes era. (There's no denying Kim Zimmer's acting chops, but the obsession with Reva the human wrecking ball seems even more ridiculous now.)

I enjoy '83 more than '82 for a couple of reasons. There's the fabulous payoff to the Quint/Nola romance, the beginning of Billy/Vanessa, the Eli Simms mystery and Phillip/Beth/Rick/Mindy, the four musketeers. 

psst...1983 is better. 

52 minutes ago, Mitch64 said:

Parker seems to have confirmed that in the Locker Room one on Mo's death..."I think they needed money to pay for Justin" and was not throwing any shade on Deas...(must be an actor's life)  Total agree Mo initiating divorce, moving back into the boarding house...having to reluctantly take sides with Bridget against Van when the truth came out about Peter...(would be great scenes between MK and EP.and pave the way for a reunion with Ed when he too supports Bridget.) I do think a romance between her and Roger would have been too much...I always thought it made sense, Mo had so many brothers that she was used to taking care of bad boys, would have an affinity to both Ed and Roger.  And then Claire returns to light a match on the whole thing (I think during Ed and Holly's affair Mo mentions she never legally adopted Chelle, which made no sense as Chele always called her Mom..) it would finally give Fletcher a reason for existence to have them question Cheles paternity. 

Much better then Buzz screaming at the top of his lungs but we could have had both..they could have freed up money by getting rid of Nick whose story was long stale..

A) it would've been EPIC to have Vanessa and Mo go at it over Bridget and Roger's involvement in Peter's life. Their friendship was great, but it's always good when established characters get to air out some old laundry when the story calls for it. 

B ) Nick, Julie Camaletti, Jenna, Eve....or just not bring Buzz at all. And honestly, Fletcher. 

16 hours ago, Althea Davis said:

Nope I'm only watching in German. 

If you can find anything 1982 to 1991 in English... please share.

Of course these are all on youtube:

Tennbelle---has Josh and Reva (and Reva/Kyle) playlists from 1984 on

SentieriGuidingLight---Italian episodes (seem start summer of 86)

Jimmuneco--random episodes from 79-91

SoapsNthings---random episodes 79-84

quintnola---focuses on the Quint/Nola romance from 82-85

Leorubysun--episodes from 1980, 1981, 1984

classicGL---videos by storyline

blakemarler---playlists from 89-07

30 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I think you have a fair point. Maureen was essentially just used to make Roger look better. Ellen Parker and Michael Zaslow and the scripting team made it work. If Maureen had lived I think she probably would have ended up changing her views considering how much Roger was regressed as a character by the mid-90s.

Oh, to have Maureen for the Peter saga....

On 4/16/2024 at 12:48 PM, Althea Davis said:

I am literally getting goosebumps watching 1982! THIS SHOW IS ON FIRE.

Have you found a good playlist of '82 episodes in English? I've been stitching the year together from clips and random episodes mostly. The German episodes are good to fill in, but the translations are awkward at best. I found an episode in German of Carrie going off on Vanessa, and whatever Carrie says scares the bejesus out of her.

I understand that point of view, and the value of those kind of connections. But in this specific case, Roger really was doing villainous things, and Maureen never got the full tea. Granted, I don't think they really ever did much other than have Maureen occasionally give the occasional grace to Roger or try to reel someone back from obsessing over him. But when she comes back from the country club and says "I feel dirty", yadda yadda---all I can think is that she's never had Roger screw with her life for his own gain.

I recently rewatched the buildup to Alex's takedown of Roger. I found myself getting mad that Maureen was so willing to give Roger the time of day. After everything that he'd done to all these people she knew....ugh.

44 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

It's probably even more dramatic, as you at least had Jeanne Cooper for continuity. 

I've said this so many times now, but much as I adore Ross Marler and Jerry ver Dorn, in no logical soap world is a 5-year character the elder statesman of a 45 year old show.

I'm not disagreeing, athough I thought Ed split those duties. Or maybe would have, if Peter Simon hadn't been so ...Peter Simon.

In some respects, the changeover is almost as dramatic as when Bill Bell switched the focus of Y&R from the Foster/Brooks  to the Newman/Abbotts. 

It didn't strike me at the time, but on GL's last episode, Maeve Kinkead is the actor who'd been there the longest (aside from the cameos by Maureen Garrett and Lisa Brown).

5 hours ago, BoldRestless said:

On YouTube, click the gear icon next to the CC button, select subtitles, select German (auto-generated), select Auto-Translate, and then English. Of course, it's not a perfect transcript.

 

@rsclassicfanforever was 1990 not aired in Germany, or you just didn't have it?

 

Thanks @FrenchFan for the recaps!

OMG---thanks! 

I don't suppose there's some way to get the transcript on youtube to convert to English? I know what's going on for the most part, having dug out a hodgepodge of clips in English, and just knowing the history, but I've never wished I was conversational in any language as much as I was now. lol

Oddly, the Nola/Quint wedding is entirely in English. As is singing. 

On 4/9/2024 at 6:22 AM, Althea Davis said:

I wanted to say a huge thanks to @rsclassicfanforever who uploaded Guiding light in German from 1982 to 1992 on his youtube channel. 

I just found that channel and didn't know about it... and I've started the 1982 episodes... COMPLETELY IN LOVE with the show.

Thank you!

 

THANK YOU

OMG!! Thanks for posting. It's episodes I'd been searching for. They exist! 

BTW, does anyone remember if they really explained how Trish and Vanessa knew each other? I gathered they were friends, and from bios it says that Vanessa called Trish to bring her to Springfield because of Andy Norris. But I haven't found any context.  LOL...I'm semi-obsessed with messyVanessa.

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

It's one of the main reasons we come here to talk and speculate. The thought of what might be.

We could just say everything on ATWT was great, the show is gone, and all just stop posting, I guess. 

IKR?? 

1 hour ago, adrnyc said:

I don't understand what certain posters on this board need to hear in order to understand that P&G has made it perfectly clear they have zero interest in their soap opera history. Where's the mystery?

It's just a wish and a hope...geez. I think we all know there's zero chance that P&G will do anything with their library. They've always been the last to come to any kind of pop culture wave. They've probably just learned about a little channel called "Hallmark".

Assuming that The Gates actually gets off the ground (I'm not certain what "in development" obligates them to), P&G should make a splash and honor their history in soaps. They could stream some truly classic soap episodes from their library. I'm not sure if that's even possible, with residuals, etc. but it would be nice of them to pay back some of the loyalty their viewers showed them for decades. 

There's nothing so frustrating as missing episodes on youtube. I'm watching GL from the '80's and while you're thankful for what you can find, missing that crucial episode is a bummer.

Did everyone remember Don Hastings birthday on April Fool's? He turned 90.