Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[alwaysAMC]

Aww, thank you!  That is great to hear.  I might just take that recommendation once the Marion/Brent storyline wraps, as that seems like it would be a good, natural break.  I'd go back to where you suggested and watch back up to Feb 1995 where I started, and then jump back to that time in 1996 where Marion/Brent is gone.  I have been curious to see certain things, like how Frank/Eleni get together (ever since the old Eleni left in March 1995, the character has mostly been background at the diner, sadly).  I'd love to see Ric Hearst's intro as AM.  Maureen and then her death.  More of Roger/Holly/Blake...  I could go on and on.  

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Edited 18 hours ago by alwaysAMC

[Speed Racer]

I hope you do, for your entertainment's sake.

Lots of great actors:  Beverlee McKinsey, Michael Zaslow, Maureen Garrett, Maeve Kincaid, Jordan Clarke, Jerry VerDorn, Melissa Hayden, Monti Sharp (the original David, Gilly's brother - you need to zero in on that guy!), Rick Hearst, Amelia Marshall and several others.

Several umbrella stories that cross pollinate, interesting character friendships, and perhaps best of all, considerably above-average dialogue.

The show wasn't perfect of course.  There are some clunker stories (Julie and Hart's teen-time romance, and Daniel St John), but quite solid overall.

That said, when GL was at its best, it assumed its viewers had a brain and liked to use it.

 

[Gatecrashers]

Hey, Always! This is said without any disrespect at all, but how old are you? If you didn't live through those times, this is extremely, and sadly, accurate. This is how it really was in those days. I'm in my late 40s and remember it well. As a matter of fact, GH's HIV/AIDS story the same year twisted my arm into remaining a virgin before I came out as a lesbian. I was terrified of dying. I think we all were.

[Contessa Donatella]

When people do this "the 80s had the best fill-in-the-blank" nostalgia turn, I really cringe.

[alwaysAMC]

Hey!  All good, I appreciate that.  I'm 41 from the Midwest, so I was just being introduced to the subject of AIDS/HIV, but still too young to really understand it fully.  It was very taboo where I came from, but I actually do remember as a pre-teen the GH story with Robin and Stone.  And I even remember the Cindy storyline from AMC, both of which were done really well.  I think GL did a good job bringing awareness to the subject.  All three soaps did a great job of highlighting that it isn't just a 'gay person's disease'.  

I think my comments are coming more from how a lunatic (Brent/Marion) was using it as a weapon.  It was just a little jarring in how it was used that way and how the pendulum would swing between this horrible death weapon as revenge to bringing awareness/removing the stigma.  Hopefully that makes sense

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Oh I also strongly remember Pedro from The Real World during that time, another good example.

This is what I love and look forward to!  

And yes!  I thankfully got some exposure to the original David.  He was replaced about a month or two after I started my watch.  GL had three of the "The character of X is now being played by X..." voiceover moments back to back when I started my watch (Feb-May 1995).  First was Eleni, second David, then temporarily Roger (thankfully that was short-lived haha).

[Contessa Donatella]

Which brings us back to soaps because Mary-Ellis Bunim. 

[alwaysAMC]

Touche!

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   And hence why I loved The Real World haha! 

Oh I do want to add @Gatecrashers, that I appreciate your perspective and confirmation that it was that scary back then.  That's helpful context.  I think I was just 5 years too young, in a conservative part of the country, to really feel that back then.  Thanks for sharing! 

[Contessa Donatella]

I was a grown-ass adult then & it was a hard-time to be alive, economically, politically & then way too many friends died of the dadgummed plague. 

Also there was a time when all of the soaps did *something* to acknowledge or bring awareness to HIV-AIDS. The Daytime Day of Remembrance, I think it was dubbed, was June 20-somethingth.

[alwaysAMC]

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Thanks for sharing!

[Gatecrashers]

No problem. No worries!

[kalbir]

Not to derail this thread, but in various shows threads here it's been said that the HIV storylines in the 1980s and 1990s have not aged well. I remember Y&R Jessica Blair being a summer social issue storyline with dialogue that was heavy-handed and very PSA yet the execution of the storyline was not a realistic portrayal of an AIDS patient.

I say start with May 1989 when Springfield learns Roger survived the fall off the cliff in Santo Domingo. Robert Calhoun becomes EP in June 1989 and GL finally hits its stride after a few rough years.

[P.J.]

If you want to see Roger/Holly/Blake, I'd start at the beginning of '89 (or maybe even December '88, when I believe Holly returns. I just caught like Xmas '88 and Holly/Blake (Liz Dennehy) are getting along...) You'd definitely need to see Roger's return to Springfield, which I believe is May. 

[P.J.]

Historically, Vanessa and Amanda don't like each other. When Van first came to town, she was conniving and set every woman's teeth on edge as she flirted with the men. Van's first target in town happened to be Ben McFerrin, who was married to Amanda at the time. Van doesn't break them up outright, but she strains the marriage. Then Van and Amanda butted heads at Spaulding. They never fought outright over a man, but they had lovers Ross and Mark Evans in common. OG Vanessa found Amanda boring (as she did anyone who Ross was interested in like Evie Stapleton or Carrie). 

Plus, Vanessa's a little more territorial about being Ross #1 ex...which sounds a little weird I know. 

[alwaysAMC]

Sounds like May 1989 might be a good fit for me

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 I'll look online and see what my options are for full episodes.

Vanessa!  That doesn't sound like the Van I know right now - conniving and a flirt to all?  Haha, I love it.  So right now, Vanessa and Blake have joined forces to run Amanda away from Ross and out of town.  They definitely don't like her.

[alwaysAMC]

Nov 10-15, 1995

Poor Detective Cutter was just murdered by Marian - so sad!  What’s really good about this twist is that Marcus came across a dying Cutter, after Marcus was kicked out of the boarding house due to being framed by Roger for stealing money at The Towers.  Poor Marcus stopped to help Cutter, but was scared off by police and now is being suspected of his murder.  What’s scary/entertaining is that Cutter started spelling the murderer’s name on the pavement with his own blood and only got to MAR before he died.  Frank just found it and everyone is assuming it means Marcus and not Marian!  Great way to weave these stories together.

I am sad to see Cutter go.  He was a fun character and cute to boot.  I know they didn’t really do a lot with him outside of being the town cop, but still sad.  They did test him romantically with both Mindy and Tangie before they both abruptly left Springfield, but nothing stuck.

Oh and finally Lucy and AM were able to make love - many, many months in the making.  That was nice to see how happy they were.

I’m also interested in understanding how Springfield finds out about Nadine’s death.  At this point, she’s wrapped up at the bottom of the lake, but everyone assumes she left Springfield for her new chapter in life.

Amanda is baaaad.  She just showed up at Ross’ law office, donning only a robe, and then disrobed completely in front of him and brings him into a kiss.  She plays the seducer well, in a quiet, sultry way.  I like the actress so far.  There was a funny dream sequence that Blake had where she was in a game show with Amanda, competing for Ross, and Blake wins.  She then gets to slime Amanda, and the actress playing Amanda could barely keep a straight face. It was cute.

I’ve noticed the show is using a paused reaction shot on most cliffhangers these days.  Didn’t DAYS used to do that back in the day?  I kind of like it, as it adds some dramatic flair to the cliffhanger.

Edited 8 hours ago by alwaysAMC