Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

Thanks. I never knew that was how the Jane character arrived. Jane stays around long enough to be a maid for Alex. I can't remember when she leaves. 

The abrupt shift shows that Kobe was struggling with her decisions even then.

Edited September 14, 2024 by DRW50

[robbwolff]

There were several abrupt shifts during those months. Amanda's sudden departure in August. Justin and Helena departing for Arizona in September. Hope's departure in November/December. I especially found Justin's departure head-scratching. Six years of careful plotting with the saga of Phillip's paternity was wrapped up so abruptly when Bradley (who had been on the show for only a few months) revealed the truth. And then weeks later, Justin suddenly leaves Springfield, depriving the viewers of the fallout from the revelation. I had only been watching Guiding Light for 18 months at that point, but I remember being utterly disappointed by the changes.

[DRW50]

Justin's exit really took the air out of the tires of the Philip paternity reveal. Given that Kobe/Long made Philip a villain by 1984 I wonder if they weren't that interested in the character anyway. I don't know if Tom O'Rourke may have been a bit difficult as Don Stewart supposedly was but Justin could have remained a viable character for years to come. And I really liked Helena. Rose Alaio kept getting hosed in her soap exits...

I guess she probably wasn't even mentioned again after her departure.

[P.J.]

Is Edmund on trial for kidnapping Dinah/switching Michelle's baby with her dead one? I just watched some of Ross declaring Dinah incompetent and trying to send her to Vanessa in Italy, and then Ross and Vanessa trying to talk sense into Cassie re: Dinah carrying her and Edmund's baby.

ETA: Actually, it's not Edmund's trial, it's Harley on trial for Phillip's murder. I don't know what charges are coming Eddie's way though. she goes to jail and meets Linda Dano.

Per chance does anyone know Jerry verDorn's last airdate?

Jane had some tie to Alex---she had met Alex when Alex was looking for Lujack prior to Alex's arrival in Springfield (I think).

Jane also spends time as Stacy's nanny in late '83-early '84. She's working at the Chamberlains around the time of The Fishing Picture mystery, she's also sort of nursing Henry after his heart attack. She notices Stacy's hearing problem around the time of the Masquerade when Alex arrives and Billy/Vanessa get married.

Edited September 15, 2024 by P.J.

[Contessa Donatella]

ImDb uses 2005 for end of GL and also for begin of OLTL.

[P.J.]

Thanks. I suppose I'll have to watch some more of '05. 

[kalbir]

Justin was recast with Christopher Pennock in May 1990 (I think, I remember it was in the spring) and he remained until the early months of 1991. Was he well-received as a recast? I know Christopher Pennock had a following from Dark Shadows, and a soap role between Dark Shadows and GL was a short arc on Y&R in 1986.

[Contessa Donatella]

https://www.soapcentral.com/guiding-light/news/2005/0926-verdorn.php

 

As previously reported by Soap Central, Jerry ver Dorn (Ross Marler) will exit Guiding Light in October,

[DRW50]

I remember he was there around the time I started watching. He mostly seemed to exist to be an obstacle for Dylan/Sam. And wearing Hawaiian shirts. 

[P.J.]

Well, I found him in the September 30th episode of GL. According to SOC, he started as Clint October 25. 

[P.J.]

Yes. A postpartum Reva went to India to try and clear the way for Dylan and Sam--I think to get married. 

No, I wouldn't consider him well-received. But honestly, they didn't even do much with him. He's overbearing with Sam and a mentor to Daniel St. John. Daniel has a brief relationship with Holly before being exposed as having killed his wife and her sister, Jean Weatherhill. Justin leaves town soon after Sam regains her ability to walk, I think. And being cured of some rare illness through Daniel's research.

They didn't really even try to reestablish his relationships around town, other than with Ed and Ross. He's now an infectious disease specialist, instead of a cardiologist. He has a conversation with Vanessa, where he charmingly asks how Ross let her get away---which is weird since he knew Vanessa back when she was spoiled and selfish and he knew exactly why her and Ross didn't work out.

It was a rare miscast and extremely lazy writing for the era. 

Edited September 15, 2024 by P.J.

[Paul Raven]

In the cases of Amanda and Justin's quick exits,perhaps it was the actors wanting to leave. I'm pretty sure that was the case for Tom O'Rourke who after 6 years wanted to try for primetime in LA.

And perhaps Kathleen Cullen wanted a break after years in the role. 

[Contessa Donatella]

I do recall that Ellen Wheeler called Jerry to book him for 2 days a week for the next 3 weeks & she was shocked to learn he had a new gig, contract role on OLTL. To me, and I am known as a Wheeler apologist, it was her first HUGE mistake. She should have put Bradley or Frank even on recurring but not Jerry. 

[P.J.]

I could see that in O'Rourke's case. I think they lost interest in Justin after Cindy Pickett left. 

[P.J.]

It's just odd timing, given that Dinah had just returned and was deep in her psychotic mess with Cassie and Edmund, and Ross was also playing Daddy figure to Lizzie and even looking out for Michelle. 

The budget squeeze is on---I scanned about six months worth of episodes and Ed, Marah and Shayne are still in the opening credits and not on the show. I could swear it's even Aubrey Dollar's Marina in the credits, while Mandy Bruno's in the role and dating Danny. 

I could've come up with about a thousand ways to save money other than putting Jerry on recurring--but you don't know contract situations and he's making more money than Frankie D on a per episode basis, I'm sure.

I'm pretty sure Jerry said he would've stayed on recurring. I don't know how the OLTL came about. But it must've been quick.