Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[Contessa Donatella]

Just FYI/FWIW what I have in a channel I call "vintage". 

ATWT & GL from 1952 through 1979, 77 episodes. (ATWT 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1972, 1978, 1979. GL 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979.)

Specifically

TGL 1953 - 4

GL 1952 - 1

GL 1953 - 4

GL 1954 - 1

I can't find where I noted how many of them begin with the voiceover "This is the Guiding Light, created by Irna Phillips." I would guess 2 dozen. 

 

[DRW50]

They all but abandoned most of the longstanding characters and families, instead focusing on a lot of stunts, location shooting, new characters who only lasted a few years, and histrionics.

[Contessa Donatella]

Thank you. That sounds awful. P&G really knew how to take something that wasn't broken & in an attempt to make things better, screwed it all up, to h*ll & back. 

[P.J.]

You'll rarely get an agreement on what the "glory days" are. I admit, I get hung up on it too, but everyone likes what they like, and there are good and bad aspects of it. 

I know we all come off as negative about aspects of the show, but we wouldn't be discussing it if we thought it was "garbage".

And I don't think GL would've had Olivia/Natalia if ATWT/Nuke hadn't been generating publicity for that story. There was nothing wrong with trying to engage the LGBTQ+ community---but how about doing that with good and honest storytelling, not suddenly switching up one of the biggest ho's in Springfield, literally because they slept through all the families in town? Not to mention making the other character---interesting instead of some near virginal sad-sack?

[DRW50]

The way I see it is GL put its fans through a lot, more than a number of other soaps. Many fans remained loyal to the end and even past the end (those cruises and farewell tours), but we're still going to complain. I will never stop missing ATWT and GL, but I'm also never going to stop complaining about them. That's what it means to be family.

[Contessa Donatella]

You might as well ask what if Paul Rauch had said yes when Claire Labine pitched a romantic story between Olivia and Holly. Then, at least they'd have had adequate time to tell the dagblasted story. Otalia, largely because they had to accommodate a real life pregnancy, desperately needed about 10 more months.

And, explanations about 2 adult women known to previously been exclusive to men, I have already addressed these things. Please refer to my other posts.

But, I will say this. The idea for Otalia came DIRECTLY FROM the brain of Ellen Wheeler who as you might know is a practicing Mormon. If you can figure out what her reasons were, you're a better fan than am I. Because her reasons elude me. Always have. Unlikely to change. 

And, as always, lovely to talk.

 

 

 

[P.J.]

Right? I admit, the last five years in particular were hard to sit through because so many of the characters I loved were either gone or almost unrecognizable (God in Heaven...Harley...) but I am forever grateful that I can revisit (and pick and choose) Springfield when I want. 

I mean, people criticize Marland's ATWT, FCOL. Ain't nothing ever gonna please everyone. What this last year has taught me though, is that the Curlee/Demorest/Reilly era deserves (and deserved) more respect. And Curlee (arguably) deserves to be talked about as a top-tier scribe.

[Contessa Donatella]

Soap fans who complain?!! What is this world coming to? Next you'll tell me there's to be a new soap, but it will be about rich really rich ... I can't do it. 

Seriously, complaining is just a part of talking about our shows. But when complaints outweigh other talk by a large margin, to me, that is when you know there's a problem. Negativity can be contagious. And, being mean also contagious.

 

Nor should that be a goal. 

I didn't know this was a surprise. I thought all y'all already knew.

[P.J.]

Frankly, in a lot of ways, I had emotionally divorced myself from Guiding Light. I had my fond memories, but honestly, really hadn't rewatched more than the odd clip here and there (usually Nola and Vanessa's catfight, which I honestly still find flippin' hilarious.)

I've always considered myself more of an ATWT fan. Before this last year, I doubt I could've come up with any HWs names other than Marland and Long. And of course, Irna.

[Contessa Donatella]

Just for kicks, my favorite soap writers: Lemay, Labine, Curlee, Swajeski, Hurst, Mulcahey, the Dobsons, Marland, Val Jean, CCulliton, Falken Smith, Bell, Nixon & Phillips. That's 15. I like writers. So sue me.

Living but either retired or thought to be retired: Nancy Curlee, Donna Swajeski, Jill Lorie Hurst, Jerome Dobson. Carolyn Culliton, Patrick Mulcahey.

Michele Val Jean as we know has the newest of new gigs possible! #BTG #BeyondtheGates Headwriter & Show Creator & EP & ShowRunner!

As a fan of hers how lucky do I feel today?!!

Doubling back, for example? I mean in your mind, who? what? where? If this is something you believe to be true, then, spill it. Here's your chance.

[LangerDavid]

Edmund’s rant is peak soap drama, but the show’s handling of San Cristobel was a mess. Reva and Cassie’s entitlement reflected unexamined colonial power dynamics, while the writing failed to explore deeper issues of privilege and control—themes that still shape discussions on gender and authority.

[Contessa Donatella]

And, your rant covers the first level of what was wrong about the stupid island principality.

[Alan]

Yes. At the time I had not been exposed to GL's glory years but I was a viewer in the late 90s-early 00s. Annie's Dutton's descent into madness is the first great story that comes to mind. Other highlights for me included the Phillip and Harley stories, Wendy Moniz's Dinah, the revelation of Drew's maternity, and Abby's trial. Despite their faults, outlined below, E&B's GL was fast-paced, lively, and often funny.

The Mob: I didn't mind the Santos family when they first appeared. In fact I liked Carmen, Father Ray, and Abuela Maria (MC). Once Danny killed Carmen the first time, the mob stories should have sunk to the bottom of Lake Springfield with her. But they didn't. Despite that, Bethany Joy Lenz as Michelle was delightful and Susan Pratt had some great moments before being tarnished by her alliance with Carmen. Aside from Lenz, Matt Bomer, Aubrey Dollar, Brittany Snow, Laura Bell Bundy, and even Hayden Panettiere were fantastic castings of legacy characters. 

 

San Cristobel: The revelation that Reva became the princess of an island nation but no one ever noticed was ridiculous. The fantasy island stories went on for years and were ultimately pointless because they had nothing to do with the residents of Springfield. Still, San Cristobel brought David Andrew MacDonald, Crystal Chappell, and Wes Ramsey to GL.

 

My favorite period was Millee Taggart's run as headwriter from 2002-2003. She did a lot of corrective surgery in a short time. Rick's heart transplant, his wedding to Mel, and Ed's return helped to somewhat revitalize the Bauers. Joan Collins as Alexandra was an odd casting choice that somehow worked. Phillip's Ex Wives Club was brilliant. The Alan/Olivia/Phillip triangle was also great at first. Harley was still an enjoyable character. The day-to-day episodes focused on authentic and meaningful character interactions. At last we had a headwriter who understood the importance of these characters' relationships and history in driving new stories. Unfortunately John Conboy replaced MT with Ellen Weston just as she was getting started and we never really got MT's fully realized vision for GL.

[Contessa Donatella]

And, Ellen Weston is as bad as James Lipton!! Both awful & appalling!

[chrisml]

I know most everyone hates Ellen Weston, but I think Ellen Weston could have worked with a producer who had a history with the show and/or sensitivity to character-based storylines. The Maryanne story had some intriguing episodes even if the story was absurd and an insult to GL history. Weston was at least trying to tell an umbrella story that included these actors and she wanted to give them something meaty to do. I'm not disputing that it made it no sense. I was never grabbed by anything in Wheeler's tenure. From what little I watched, it was an odd mixture of tawdry, mean-spirited, and moralistic.