Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[vetsoapfan]

Julie was a complicated vixen, with both flaws and virtues. It was what made her fascinating and popular, I believe. The audience could root for her and want to strangle her at the same time.

I also think it was a mistake to kill off Addie. The story would have been more complicated and layered if Doug continued to be drawn to Julie, even though he loved Addie and Hope. Seeing Addie grow as a person, realize her value as a human being, and regain her own self-respect, would have been an inspirational story. She could have finally left Doug, not settling for a man who wanted her daughter, resulting in a significant growing experience. And then she could have found a man who loved her for herself. Watching Doug squirm as that man then bonded strongly with Hope? Fireworks!!!

[P.J.]

I don't know if she was obsessed with GWTW, or simply tapping into the explosion of romance-related obsession with the antebellum period at the time. GWTW was undoubtedly the easiest connection to make for the average viewer (classics like Jezebel, The Heiress or Raintree County weren't as well known) and miniseries like The Blue and The Gray or North and South weren't made yet. She "borrowed" Cat on a Hot Tin Roof heavily for the Lewises as well.

I think it works for Nola's engagement party, and I flove Billy and Vanessa's first meeting. They loved tapping into it for Billy and Van--the last time they made love before Billy leaves, they have come home from this party (which seems to be about drawing out whoever is threatening Josh) where Vanessa wears this version of Scarlett's red feather dress. There's not enough around that episode for me to understand if it's some comment on Vanessa's scandalous past coming back to haunt her (it's not long after she's admitted she had Ross' child) or if she's just purposefully making some kind of Lewis statement about how they're not hiding from whoever's chasing Josh. Anyway, she and Billy talk about how they were like Rhett and Scarlett when they met.

And they continued tapping into that vibe for Vanessa---she and **** go to a costume party as Scarlett and Rhett (where **** looks like a kid playing dress up...) around '95(?). (Blake is Jean Harlow and Roger and Dinah are Caesar and Cleopatra.) Obviously, Maeve looks stunning.

I've seen that Alan/Reva episode. It is shocking, and unnecessarily distasteful (obviously to end the Alan/Reva relationship). It must be Long writing, but it's clear that she doesn't understand Alan's character. Alan never would've resorted to rape. Yes, he would've humiliated her somehow, but rape? And certainly not with a house full of people downstairs.

[DeeVee]

That made me so furious. Before seeing the episode, I could say, "Yeah, Alan's bad, but he was never a rapist." In fact, he gave Roger sh!t about raping Rita and Holly.

He was a controlling bastard, and he could be emotionally and mentally abusive, but he was never physically abusive.

Long did not understand Alan's character at all. Nor did any writer after Marland left the show, really.

[TheyStartedOnSoaps]

Susan Seyforth-Hayes auditioned for the re-cast part of Alexandra, losing out to Marh Dusay

[DRW50]

I've forgotten more than I remember but thank you as always.

I just learned today that Paulding and Miner were both in the same movie (the very controversial Bully from 2001).

Now that we're in late 1997 GL, does anyone else remember the rumors that Ellen Parker (who'd made some brief appearances as Maureen's spirit) was going to appear as Abby's cellmate?

[P.J.]

It seems more like happenstance than some truly bringing a specific minor character. They needed some kind of justification for Kyle's belief he was HB's son, and it just happened that they'd given HB some ex-madam as a talk-to character when he was introduced. I'd still like to know if it was a story Long retooled when Robert Newman decided to leave. It makes a lot more sense for Josh to be the product of an affair, given the friction in HB and Josh's relationship at the time.

[TheyStartedOnSoaps]

and they were both in the Diary of Anne Frank on broadway playing sisters. Paulding played Anne Frank (for a vacationing Natalie Portman) while Miner played Margot Frank

[alwaysAMC]

Oh wow, that's a funny coincidence about Paulding/Miner! 

That would have been interesting, in what capacity? Another vision giving her advice, or a ghost, or some evil twin? 

[P.J.]

I had seen SSH as JoAnna Manning on Y&R and hated the character. I wouldn't have wanted her as Alex.

[alwaysAMC]

That was the 1995/1996 NYE Masquerade Ball! What a terrific event that was. That's when Brent Lawrence kidnapped Lucy, but more interestingly when Frank Beaty had his mental snap mid-shoot and the Brent recast started taking over mid-party. 

You also had Alan-Michael as Zorro, Alex as the Queen of Hearts, etc. 

I think Matt looks handsome with that mustache

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Edited September 14 by alwaysAMC

[Spoon]

@alwaysAMC  The way I remember it, Budig's contract wasn't renewed.  TPTB were looking for a place for Bethany Joy Lenz on canvas, after her strong performance as the teenage clone Reva.  At one point they considered bringing her on as a niece for Reva via Johnny and Roxie.  Budig's final scene was a Friday cliffhanger and was quite memorable.

[DRW50]

I can't see her coping any better than Marj but she may have had a bit more restraint (I know Susan can be a little hammy but she wasn't too often at this point).

[DRW50]

Oh I didn't know that. 

[DeeVee]

RIGHT. I remember Lenz was getting a lot of acclaim in the soap mags for her part in the clone story and someone from the show was quoted as saying they were looking for a way to bring her back into the show.

Well, heck. It would have been nice if they had finally confirmed Roxy was no longer in the asylum, regardless of whether they brought in their kid as a new character.

[alwaysAMC]

Oh wow!  See, I have a good eye for these things

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  LOL jk.

Ohh I didn't realize she played the teenage clone, that's interesting and makes sense. I feel bad for Budig in that situation then, because I think she's strong (I know, I'm biased a bit), but my gain since she got over to AMC with VI and Marj. 

Yes, I've actually seen that scene where they switch out the girls on the beach. Very interesting tactic, which Budig recently said she didn't like on the Soapy podcast. AMC did a very similar scene with the Babe recast back in the day.

Edited September 14 by alwaysAMC