Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[P.J.]

Re: Bill Bauer---are we sure Ed Bryce would've been open to coming back full time at any point after they killed Bill off circa 1970? I've always meant to ask, as I've never seen any interview of his. He obviously came back to usher Hilary in, and he did the brief stint in 1983, but I don't really know what he did otherwise.

[kalbir]

I think CBS and P&G were both shaken by 1978-1982 ABC big three huge rise and domination, thus CBS scheduling changes and P&G changes to the shows.

[DRW50]

He played Patrick Donovan on Loving a few times around 90-91. The only other thing I remember is an SPW article from the mid '90s where he talked about using videos of some of his work in churches or something along those lines, to help with public speaking.

Edited January 12 by DRW50

[Contessa Donatella]

This is something I've thought for a long while. Of course, it's not fair. We know what kind of magic Douglas Marland did during his second tenure so it gives us "insider trading" level info as armchair quarterbacks. And, the Dobsons at GL, well, the drama was just elevated. 

[SoapDope]

R: Bill Bauer. it's funny but Bert seemed to work better as a widow/single mother fretting over her family. 

After Bert passed I wish the show had introduced Bert's sister or maybe a cousin to pick up the Bauer matriarch role. I would have loved to have seen Sada Thompson cast in the part.

[chrisml]

I have not seen much of Marland's work, but I've always heard he's such a fantastic writer. However when I do see some of his shows or scenes, I'm always so bored. Am I missing something? I find him incredibly overrated but I'm willing to accept I might not be old enough to have seen his best material.

[Contessa Donatella]

One of my favorite ATWT standalone scenes is Marland with Iva running into the barn, screaming, carrying a pitchfork, "Don't! Stop! She's your child!" Then, knowing that Betty Rea hired Lisa Brown with no job for her, Marland declaring her his muse & creating Iva for her on ATWT & Nola for her on GL, then, I'm on board with him & prepared to see what else comes of him. Unfortunately, I've not seen nearly as much as I'd like to. 

[P.J.]

What era of what show are we talking about? Or just in general for both?

As much as I love ATWT, I think his best moment was when Kelly nailed Nola on GL. I swear that scene went on for 10 minutes uninterrrupted, with Kelly just dragging her for filth. It was really the first time I "got" it.

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Edited January 12 by P.J.

[Paul Raven]

Ed also returned as Bill in 1980 for Hope's wedding.

I don't think there was much interest in him coming back, after the poor reception to the Dobson's BFTD story in 77.

GL was more interested in dumping established vets than bringing one back.

Bill  could have been used in family scenes and business stories and his stepson Paul could have come on also.

[Paul Raven]

This article mentions marland being a consultant to P&G Summer of 79.

[Robluvthebeach]

Was watching Buzzr Channel --To Tell the Truth and in a 1974 episode -one of the contestants was a prolific soap opera writer (including Guiding Light) and it was Ira Avery (who wrote GL with his wife in 1968)

[Sapounopera]

What I love about Marland's work is that even "boring" scenes, where never boring to me.

[wonderwoman1951]

here’s irna on ‘to tell the truth’ in 1958:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgjdA3L19hA 

[P.J.]

@Paul Raven  thanks for the scan. I'd never seen such an early interview of Marland's. BTW, who is in the picture? I can't place them at all.

[Reverend Ruthledge]

Was Paul Bill's stepson? I thought he was his biological son.