Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

Thanks. Never seen that clip. Such generic material but strong performances from Maeve and Kim. They never should have even made Reva pregnant with HB's child.

[P.J.]

Kyle has invited the Lewises to a dinner party, and it turns into a free-for-all between Reva and Billy&Vanessa. Reva blasts Vanessa, then outs Billy for blackmailing her out of her 20percent of Lewis Oil to HB. It looks to be one of those episodes where everyone was on their game.

The small clip that's up is after all that, and Vanessa and Billy are either sitting on the same chair (so Vanessa can be as far away from Reva as possible) or on his lap, which I think is aborbs. 

That thing around Kim's neck is mesmerizingly hideous.

IA about Reva's pregnancy. I don't understand why it wasn't Josh's child. Robert left, they could've just had Reva find out after he left and not be able to tell him. 

Edited December 29, 2024 by P.J.

[wonderwoman1951]

agreed about that monstrosity around reva’s neck. but, oh what a treat to see such long scenes  — in particular, frisco and tony on gh. 

[P.J.]

That is probably the biggest difference I've noticed in rewatching episodes. The scenes are long and juicy. Sometimes I wonder why soaps ever got a bad rep for being slow. Although that could be my binging episodes.

[Franko]

As it turns out, one of my favorite bits of folklore is false. I'd always assumed that Larkin Malloy started appearing on Guiding Light the Monday after The Edge of Night ended. While it's true that GL aired on Friday, Dec. 28, 1984, the show actually didn't return until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1985. There were two straight days of preemptions for football.

[Broderick]

I watched an hour-long episode of Guiding Light from the late 1970s this weekend, and I was REALLY amazed by how long and involved the individual scenes were.  Such a contrast to today's choppy television writing.  

[MissPalmer]

A rare Spanish promo...when GL was on Spanish TV in 1990

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[kalbir]

I didn't know GL was broadcast in Spain. Have any Spain broadcasts turned up online? I've seen broadcasts from Germany, Italy, Iceland online.

[MissPalmer]

I would love too!!!! and GL was also in France...it was called there "Haine et Passions" (Hate and Passions)

[Alan]

This is the episode where Bert is memorialized by virtual strangers, mentioned a few pages ago. The mood of these scenes is, "we acknowledged Bert's death, happy now? Let's get back to the important characters like Cain Harris." The Dionne Warwick song at the end is appropriate. GL definitely didn't make any extravagant gestures for Bert's sendoff.

On a more positive note, something that stands out about this episode is how lively Springfield seems, especially in the Company scenes. I miss when soaps invested in extras, the ambiance of a crowded restaurant or busy hospital helped to make the setting feel more real. Also, I have long wondered: when did the floorplan of Company change and why? How was the change explained?

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[DRW50]

Thanks @MissPalmer

[Paul Raven]

that episode spoke volumes about how GL had been destroyed in just a few years. 

All those people standing around , some who barely knew Bert.

A recast Ed, no Mike or Hope . Hilary dead.No visit from Peggy, Meta, Steve Jackson etc.

It should have been a wake up call to TPTB that constant change is quite damaging.

[DRW50]

Who was the woman holding hands with Louie?

[Reverend Ruthledge]

A very inconsequential character. I think her name was Amber and I think she was a doctor at Cedars. I think. But her presences was much more important at Bert's funeral than Mike or Hope. 

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Edited January 3 by Reverend Ruthledge

[Mitch64]

Company changed so many times without explanation. I know the original set had a fireplace in it, and it changed throughout the years..I liked JFP's Company with its staircase to the presumably upstairs of the Boardinghouse, and actually like Wheeler's set design for it. One thing that was consistent to at least the Rauch period was Nola's movie posters on the walls. The most infamous change was that McLaiby took the old Company and had Bridget and Nola turn it into...some kind of NY Lounge/Nightclub looking thing? It was part of the storyline and had a grand opening. Rauch wisely changed it back to a more traditional (though typically Rauch bland...) set overnight with no explanation.  I can see Nola running a lounge/nightclub (but hers would be ArtDeco out of a movie) but not changing a family bar/restaraunt to that.