Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[P.J.]

Agreed. I love Rachel Miner, and Bethany Joy Lenz is the perfect adult Michelle. 

[alwaysAMC]

I know it's an unpopular opinion here, but I just thought Miner was cold and unlikeable. I'm sure I would feel differently if I watched her deal with Maureen's death, or grew up with her in real time. But in my 40s now, watching for the first time, definitely don't think Budig is cold in this role - she's very spunky but naivety. 

Well that will do it LOL.

Edited September 14 by alwaysAMC

[P.J.]

Sally is kind of a thankless role. I think more of Barry's performance now than I did at the time. Billy mentions her from time to time (her death seemed to be the impetus for Billy's drinking binge that gets Vanessa to go to Venezuela in '88) or sometimes makes the distinction between Josh's mother and his. But for the most part, he means Martha when he talks about his mother.

[DRW50]

I do think you would have to be there and see Miner growing up in the part. 

I don't think it helps that I often hated Greenlee.

Edited September 14 by DRW50

[Vee]

I think Budig is just compared very unfavorably to both Miner and Joie Lenz, who were very well-loved. Her stories and writing weren't great either.

[vetsoapfan]

IMHO, her best and most poignant work was as Addie Horton on DAYS. The audience loved her fiercely, and rained down hell on Bill Bell and the show when the character was killed off.

[vetsoapfan]

Budig was perfectly adequate as Michelle, but my favorite adult version of the character was Lenz. NSA was by far the weakest.

The REAL Michelle, in my eyes, will always be Miner, who was so solemn, so "still waters run deep," so endearing in the role.

[P.J.]

It surprises me that GL brought her back. She had a throwaway role when HB's introduced in '83, and just kind of disappears after The Fishing Picture mystery is solved. Then she pops up as Kyle's mother in '85.

I've seen some of her other tv work (Perry Mason, and maybe The Twlight Zone) and she was certainly a looker. She must've been something on DOOL in the 60's(?).

[alwaysAMC]

Blasphemy! 

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I've really bought into the Michelle/Jesse love story! It's much better than her pairing with Zachary and I'm fully vested   I also loved her early friendship with Abby, and how she would sign with her.

You know who miner reminds me of? One of the younger Bianca's on AMC, during her anorexia storyline, which I think is when Lucci won her Emmy. Her mannerisms and voice are very similar to Miner, which... I didn't love haha. But again, I bet if I grew up with Miner and/or saw her in the aftermath of Maureen's death, I'd probably feel differently.

While we're on the subject, do we know why Budig left GL? She didn't go to AMC for about a year after I think. I'm assuming she left on her own and wasn't fired?

[DeeVee]

Yep, she was poorly drawn. A total stereotype. Belle Watling from Gone With the Wind updated for the 1980s.

One of Pam Long's biggest flaws IMO was her obvious obsession with GWTW. Restaging the Rhett/Scarlett meeting when Billy and Vanessa met, the Civil War themed engagement party with two Scarletts fighting each other, Miss Belle, I mean, Miss Sally.

And let's not forget, Reva's scarlett red dress.

Recently on the German channel I came across an episode right after Reva came back to Alan after having sex with Josh in Venezuela. He knew she had cheated on him because he had a detective following them. He insisted they go to a party (I think it was in honor of Rick and Meredith who had just come back from their honeymoon) and that she WEAR THE RED DRESS. To a party where everyone else was wearing jeans. She complied.

Just like Rhett made Scarlett do after finding out she had kissed Ashley.

The insanity of this episde escalates beyond GWTW fanfic. Alan tries to rape her at the party. Phillip literally has to drag him off her. AND THEN SHE GOES BACK HOME WITH HIM. 

She only threw Alan out later when she found out he slept with Blake in Mexico. While they were "on a break."

THAT was the red line?

No bueno.

[vetsoapfan]

There were so many major, beloved, essential characters whom TGL gratuitously axed in 1983-84. Ignoring them and bring back Miss Sally just annoyed me, to be honest. She was basically irrelevant to the show's history.

Patricia Barry was wonderful on DAYS. The idea was always for Doug and Julie to wind up together, but Barry's poignant portrayal of Addie made a lot of fans to root fror Doug to stay with her and forsake Julie. When Bill Bell killed off Addie to facilitate a Julie/Doug reunion, fans were enraged. They called for Bell to be fired, and they protested loudly.

[vetsoapfan]

I was watching when Michelle was born, and saw Miner be cast and grow a lot as Michelle. In situations like that, viewers are more likely to become attached to the performer. Jada Rowland grew up on screen as Amy Ames on The Secret Storm and Kimberly McCullough grew up as Robin Scorpio on General Hospital. Replacing them would not be looked upon favorably by the audience, I'd say.

[DeeVee]

It didn't help that Julie was horribly selfish during this time. Her mother risks her life (she had leukemia, IIRC) to give birth to Hope. Julie's reaction when she hears of Hope's birth?

"I would have given him a son!"

Even back then, I thought it was wrong to kill off a core--and popular--family member, no matter how dramatic in the short-term. At least they made Doug and Julie wait quite a long time before they were able to get together.

[DRW50]

I appreciate the memories you and others share as I know I'll probably never see most of her work as Addie. What I have seen of Barry is always a little too theatrical for me.

That's a perfect way to describe Miner's work. When her Michelle did smile or express happiness, you knew it was genuine.

She does remind me a little of that Bianca. I think her name was Nathalie Paulding (?). Something along those lines. I actually liked her work as Bianca. She felt like one of those dying children in a Victorian-era film, which suited a child of the uber-dramatic Erica and Travis. I think some of that carried on with Eden Reigel. She reminds me a little of Miner but Miner was always a little tougher, especially after Maureen died.

I think Budig left by her own choice.

[alwaysAMC]

Very true, and Robin Scorpio is a great example.

Yep, that's the Bianca!  Great description or her portrayal too.

You never cease to amaze me with your broad soap opera knowledge!

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