Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[chrisml]

I get the criticism about the Ben Reade storyline, but it was compelling t.v. and Matt Bomer was sensational. He should have won the Emmy. The Maryann Carruthers storyline was an attempt to tell an umbrella storyline which I like, and while it insulted the memory of viewers, there were compelling moments/episodes. I don't known if that storyline is worse than the traveling through a painting, cloning, Amish Reva, kissing cousins, Tangie, etc. It always amuses me that for all the criticism of Conboy, it was a backside that got him fired. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Talk about your really low bar! 

I don't know if that is true, exactly, but he should have been fired for financial malfeasance. Budget, didn't have one, so what? If there is some way to spend when you don't have money to spend, apparently some people have a way with it. 

[P.J.]

LOL...you know I love give-no-quarter Vanessa! She introduces herself to Edmund, then in her iciest voice..."yes, I've heard an earful about you..."  

*sigh* Vanessa could snap people like twigs. 

[DRW50]

To me that story that worse than any of the other plots you mentioned. I grew up watching Ben and then I had to see him used in a plot that told viewers if you are sexually abused, you will become a serial killer, and you should commit suicide. I could never forgive that storyline. I think it was the antithesis to everything GL was supposed to be - the lighthouse, redemption and a better way. If I wanted to watch that I would watch Ryan Murphy's perversions.

Edited September 21, 2024 by DRW50

[DramatistDreamer]

Maeve could do her own unique version of what I like to refer to as the ‘soap opera seethe’. I don’t watch any of today’s current daytime soaps (hopefully that changes next year) but I doubt anyone does something on this level. The restraint to hold back fury, while giving the appearance of having ice in one’s veins that they could freeze someone completely out.

[TEdgeofNight]

The fact that Wheeler was never hired in daytime again says alot. I’d rather GL ended earlier than the idiotic Peapack crap. Go out with dignity. GL did not do that because of Wheeler. It’s show business. You lose jobs. It happens.  I’ll never forgive Ellen Wheeler for what she did to GL. Peapack? How stupid. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Awhile back I read an account by Matt Bomer about his time at Guiding Light. If this does not chill you to your very core. I have no idea what else anyone could say. 

https://michaelfairmantv.com/matt-bomer-recalls-ben-reades-dark-storylines-on-guiding-light-revealing-he-told-writers-just-throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-me-and-they-did/2015/06/27/

 

Next, Matt told a hilarious synopsis of the storylines of Ben Reade during his year in Springfield, when he told Seth Meyers:   “I was a trust fund baby who bet my fraternity brothers that I could deflower the town virgin. I fell in love with her, but she found out about the bet and dumped me.  Then, I met a new girlfriend, lost my trust fund and was embarrassed to tell her so I became a male prostitute .. that’s what you do when you lose your trust fund. (Laughs).  So I had all these cougar clients that that were these women I would meet at 6 in the morning and by 9am we would be in the bed making out together for five minutes.  Then my girlfriend found out I was a male prostitute, dumped me of course, and then I went crazy, killed five people, kidnapped her to a remote cabin in the woods, confessed to her that I’d been molested by my middle school teacher, and then committed suicide in front of her, her father, and her new boyfriend. Then, hung on for one day in the hospital to confess my sins!”

The biggest laugh was at the end of Bomer’s recanting of the story of Ben on Guiding Light when he added, “My favorite moment is when the writers came up to me at the end of it and they go, ‘Listen, if you ever want to come back, we’ve got it figured out.’  (Laughs).   Matt always wondered just how they could do that! Evil twin?

[Contessa Donatella]

I would just point out, although I am quite sure it is something obvious to most of us soap fans. Going from 1970 when there were 19 soaps on the air, to a point where 12 were, on down to now, when there are four, soon to be five, more people who once worked in soaps, after their show was canceled did not find comparable work available to them in daytime. That does not say anything AT ALL significant about them. It's just the reality of the situation. not nearly enough jobs to support the numbers of people who previously worked in this industry that we love so much. Yes, it's true, FACTS matter. 

[P.J.]

It seems to be a skill that's died out. Vanessa would probably be seen as "boring" by today's standards. The ironic thing is Maeve's acting is subtle---Vanessa rarely is. You know exactly where you stand with her. It makes the times she snaps mean so much more. 

There's a point about a year after Billy left her at the altar where they're arguing again (I think it's over her running Lewis Oil) and Billy pushes her buttons about her "punishing" him for it, and she snaps on him hard--"you nearly killed me you sonofabitch." And it's like whoa buddy. 

Stuff like that's what made little Beth Raines being able to rattle Vanessa unbearable to me. 

Edited September 21, 2024 by P.J.

[DramatistDreamer]

This reminds of Kathryn Hays, in a way, though Vanessa and Kim were on opposite sides of the same coin. Vanessa could be cool to people, to the point of icing them out. Kim was perceptibly a warmer character who came off as “sunny” but when she snapped, it could make your head spin. Judging by the “Golly!” and “Kiddo”s, just by her tone, she made it clear how she felt. John Dixon was on the receiving end of both eye rolls, haughty laughter and a shaking of the head, so we always knew how Kim felt.

Neither actress got their due for how consistently they delivered their performances.

[BetterForgotten]

Same here with Maureen Garrett. 

[Contessa Donatella]

I cannot ever say enough good about Maureen Garrett. Also she is smart & savvy, a great citizen & one who believes in the stewardship of the earth. She was one who was outspoken about the changes to the show. She described the process as if the actors were herded like cattle. I don't know how she stood at least 2 of her final stories. That ridiculous kidnapping of all of the kids and then Roger's son, Sebastian, who locked her in a cell & then tried to kiss her. 

[Mitch64]

Not only kill Ross,  but have Rick and Phillip be indirectly responsible for it (oh yes and trying to make Phillip a James Stenbeck/Stefano BIG BAD.) They could have easily left it that no body was found...(poor Blake..ending up with...Frank Cooper!!!)

 

McKinsey at least knew the show. No..everyone knew they were getting ready to put GL and ATWT to bed for good. Wheeler was a choice for a reason..she came cheap and she didn't what the hell she was doing so the death was being hastened by assinging a well meaning but inept doctor to the patient on life support. She was a usefull idiot. Gautman on the other hand knew exactly what was going on. Its no mistake the Rauch "retired" when he did, as tacky as he was he still knew what GL was and how to put a show together and he didn't want to be there to the end.

That was it...Wheeler was given a show that had no budget, because of Conboy. Rauch had the show looking good and spruced up some sets before he left...the  New Years Eve episodes with the Bauer House look great..Conboy blew it all on and tanked the budget.  

[MichaelGL]

Paul Rauch did make the show look good before he left, and that period before Conboy took over will always be the last point GL could've been pulled back from the edge and saved.

[Contessa Donatella]

Indeed. Conboy fixed it. He spent, they say at least, money that he did not have to spend, leaving Wheeler with a "deficit spending budget" whatever the hell that is.

Besides Paul Rauch retiring just at that oh so convenient moment. MADD herself, also retired. And, when she did, as we know, P&G for some god forsaken reason decided AT THAT MOMENT, not a minute before, to do away entirely with the position P&G's Executive in Charge of Production. IOW, the literal go between, the only buffer, between show EP & CBS's HEAD OF DAYTIME!

Edited September 21, 2024 by Contessa Donatella
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