Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[soapfan770]

That’s actually a good starting point with Nadine first coming to Springfield and the Marah paternity and Sonni/Solita stories starting to wrap up. Hang in there because it really does get better by Spring.

So true.

I have read that Wilmore was really liked when he first came to GL but had some sort of mental breakdown in 1989. Anecdotes I’ve read including him throwing a chair across the set during a temper tantrum and also having stress induced vomiting episode during a lunch meeting with Zimmer and Long. 

[amybrickwallace]

It was named Most Improved Show in 1989.

[victoria foxton]

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[Spoon]

Best for them to start after Sonni/Solita.

[Soaplovers]

1989 is the start of Roger and Holly..plus Blake.

[Chris B]

I’m glad I stuck with these 1989 uploads because now in the April episodes I’m hooked! I’m starting to see some of my favorite characters: Billy, Vanessa, Blake (albeit a Blake I don’t know), Ross, Holly. I also loved Beverly McKinsey from AW/Texas so it’s nice to see her in her other signature role. 
 

It’s interesting seeing Kassie DePaiva on GL. She fits in well, but this Reardon family confuses me when I look it up because it’s so big. So Chelsea is sisters to Nola and Maureen? Of course I see her interacting with Maureen, but did Chelsea ever interact with Nola? I get she was on OLTL, but it seems like a missed opportunity to never bring her back, especially once Maureen died. 
 

I have two questions about this family: 

1. Did anybody return for Maureen’s funeral from the Reardon family?

2. How does Bridget tie into this family? Physically she always reminded me of Nola, but I am pretty sure they aren’t mother and daughter. 
 

ETA:

 

She popped up in the episode that just started and I have to say: I DO NOT LIKE HARLEY! I never liked her in the later years and I feel the same in 1989. She’s more likable than she became, but the Cooper family was so grating in those later years that it’s going to take a lot of patience for me to enjoy them. 

Edited December 26, 2021 by Chris B

[robbwolff]

Chelsea arrived over a year after Nola left so they never interacted. I believe the Reardons returned for Maureen’s funeral but were not seen. Bridget was the daughter of Sean Reardon, brother to Nola, Tony, Maureen, Jim, Chelsea, and Lana, who was never seen. Sean had other children, including Matt.

[Soapsuds]

I hated Chelsea. I wish the stalker would have gotten rid of her.

[Chris B]

That’s so odd to me. Matt and Bridget were on the show for a long time to never have their dad even visit. I wonder why the show lost interest in this family. 

[Khan]

IIRC, Sean Reardon DID visit.

[robbwolff]

Yep. It was in 1995. WT Martin played the role. 

[Paul Raven]

Marland spent time establishing the Reardons as a new family but subsequent writers were more interested in their own creations and slowly the Reardons (and the Bauers) were dropped.

There was still plenty of potential for those characters eg Tony,Jim but Pam Long and others were hell bent on pushing the Shaynes and the Coopers.

The same thing happened to the Matthews. McKinnons and Loves on AW.

[Forever8]

Chelsea was a retcon offspring I believe because it was originally stated that Nola was the youngest of the Reardon children. If anything, Chelsea could've been Maureen's eldest niece via Lana who we never saw. 

[BetterForgotten]

The Reardons are a strange bunch - they went to Protestant under Marland to Catholic under Long…

[Khan]

I still can't believe Bea Reardon would have named one of her children "Chelsea," just like I still can't believe there was a Walton girl named "Erin."

Or, perhaps, Chelsea could've been one of Tom Reardon's nieces...from Nashville.