Thanks @alwaysAMC for all of your recaps. I've been reading through the last month of your entries.

I had forgotten they set up so many convoluted ties with the Santos family and San Cristobel. I can't imagine Danny and Edmund as being friendly (maybe when Danny was meant to be bad), or Edmund being wild and fun.

Michelle knowing Josh and Reva all her life. I mean...I guess...

I was annoyed at the time that they had Buzz going to England because of Jenna's roots, and her (offcamera) family being involved, when a big part of her backstory was that she had a very unhappy upbringing and never even felt she had a family.

They badly miscast Bill if they wanted to present him as intelligent. Ryan Brown was one of the dullest himbos ever on any soap.

You're right about Annie's exit. There should have been more story on just why Lizzie would obsess over her so much beyond Beth being a terrible mother.

I didn't realize how blatantly India was shoved into Alan's story. Alan telling Philip how wonderful he is...eh...

I had forgotten Jesse Soffer was the first Max. He would go on to have a popular run on ATWT, and primetime work.

One of the reasons Paul Wesley was likely cast is because he had been in the final month or two of Another World.

I wonder if someone at the show belatedly realized they skipped the 4th. Or one of the few remaining traditionalists at P&G stepped in.

I remember tripping out at Max because I remembered Jesse Soffer from the Brady Bunch movies (I think he went by Jesse Lee). Then he was gone overnight.

So Holly was the Journal's owner at the time? Did she end up selling it?

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Michelle knowing Josh and Reva all her life. I mean...I guess...

They badly miscast Bill if they wanted to present him as intelligent. Ryan Brown was one of the dullest himbos ever on any soap.

Re: Michelle---right? Josh and Reva couldn't have picked that girl out of a line up. They were mostly "dead" or out of town while Michelle was growing up. Josh and Reva weren't palling around with the Bauers. (unless there's some medical crisis, they rarely crossed paths.) Other than knowing they were Bill's aunt and uncle, Michelle didn't know them from Adam.

Ugh---that kid. AWFUL. I suppose it wouldn't have mattered who was in the role, Bill was simply the patsy of the day for the big bad Ben and Carmen (RME) ....but that kid was a huge casting mistake.

2 hours ago, Sapounopera said:

So Holly was the Journal's owner at the time? Did she end up selling it?

I'm not certain, but I assume The Journal just kind of ceased being mentioned. I don't think any regular character ever worked there again.

THE JOURNAL-NEWS, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1982

‘Guiding Light’ gets a new head writer by Lynda Hirsch

L. Virginia Browne has been named head writer of “Guiding Light’’, replacing Pat Falken Smith. “I was stunned, since I had assumed that my option was going to be picked up by the show,” Falken Smith said. “Word came to me two days before the option should have been picked up. I did not get word from the show’s producer, Alan Potter, but instead was called by Procter & Gamble official Ed Trach.”

Falken Smith, who has also been head writer for “Days of Our Lives” and ‘ General Hospital’’, believes she was let go for two reasons. “It was very difficult for me to be writing aNew York soap and living on the West Coast. I have a 15-year-old daughter who needs my time and attention. When I first signed on to write for ‘Guiding Light’, the show was dreadfully behind. In fact, it was not unusual for an actor to be getting his script one day before taping. “I literally locked myself into my New York hotel room for two weeks, trying to get the show caught up. In fact, in that time in New York, I only went out to dinner twice, having meals sent up and working to get the scripts in ahead of time. It was a herculean task.

“Also, when I came on ‘Guiding Light*, there was to be no head writer per se. Evidently there had been many problems with strong head writers on Guiding Light’, and it was felt that they wanted the role of head writer decentralized. I had to deal with long-term storyline projections turned in by other writers. None of these were acceptable, and so I took on what amounted to head-writing duties. I felt that I needed to get paid for these duties. I am a good writer, therefore my work does not come cheap. Perhaps it was felt I wanted too much money for my services.

“When I joined Guiding Light I was told that in the past six years, none of the head writers had ever dealt with actors’ time off, vacations, etc. In other words, actors could request and get advance tape dates with their scenes shot ahead. When I came on to write, I had to deal with five major characters being unavailable. I made it clear on my first week with the soap during a meeting with the actors that I did not work that way, and that time off would not be granted at the whim of the performers. I must say that all the actors were very understanding.

Falken Smith is talking to NBC about converting Judith Krantz’s best-selling novel "Scruples" into an afternoon soap opera to hit the airwaves this coming spring. Although she was unhappy about her release from Guiding Light, she said she is pleased that several “Guiding Light’’ actors took the time to write, stating their regret about her leaving and their pleasure with the scripts that she had turned As for her hopes for the upcoming project: "I m delighted. In fact, with my option coming up from Guiding Light’, I had been called by someone about the Scruples’ project, a project that we’d been working on for quite some time. I said I had to turn it down because I assumed I would be with Guiding Light’ for a very long time. When that did not pan out I called my contact and said I was available again. “I guess in a sense you could say ‘Guiding Light did me a favor by letting me go at this time But when I made a commitment to the show, I felt that that commitment would be coming from both parties.”

8 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @alwaysAMC for all of your recaps. I've been reading through the last month of your entries.

I had forgotten they set up so many convoluted ties with the Santos family and San Cristobel. I can't imagine Danny and Edmund as being friendly (maybe when Danny was meant to be bad), or Edmund being wild and fun.

Michelle knowing Josh and Reva all her life. I mean...I guess...

I was annoyed at the time that they had Buzz going to England because of Jenna's roots, and her (offcamera) family being involved, when a big part of her backstory was that she had a very unhappy upbringing and never even felt she had a family.

They badly miscast Bill if they wanted to present him as intelligent. Ryan Brown was one of the dullest himbos ever on any soap.

You're right about Annie's exit. There should have been more story on just why Lizzie would obsess over her so much beyond Beth being a terrible mother.

I didn't realize how blatantly India was shoved into Alan's story. Alan telling Philip how wonderful he is...eh...

I had forgotten Jesse Soffer was the first Max. He would go on to have a popular run on ATWT, and primetime work.

One of the reasons Paul Wesley was likely cast is because he had been in the final month or two of Another World.

I wonder if someone at the show belatedly realized they skipped the 4th. Or one of the few remaining traditionalists at P&G stepped in.

So glad you're catching up and enjoying them!

I cannot agree more re: Ryan Brown and his portrayal of Bill - it's just not a great fit.

The Annie exit! I was so disappointed. You have this huge character that lasted now for years and her last scene is just running out of a hotel room? It wasn't even dramatic or exciting. I know Signy Coleman likely wasn't popular and the storyline was rather ridiculous, but the Annie character in and of itself deserved a better exit given she was so front and center for years. It just seemed like a brush it under the rug, we're done with this character now and let's move on moment.

My guess on July 4th - someone was like 'oh crap, we forgot', so they just threw a quick scene in a week later. Rather sad, but again, with what was going on at the time, a big happy gathering likely wouldn't have worked anyway.

I added to my last recap: The 7/27 episode is Hayley Sparks’ last episode as Harley during this run while Beth Ehlers was medically out. I just got to the 7/30 episode and Beth Ehlers just popped back up as Harley! I really thought Hayley Sparks did a great job in the end. I was used to seeing and enjoying her.

Now that they've been using the outside San Cristobel set, I've noticed its the same set they used for Reva and Josh's wedding in March 1999... so they had those SC sets planned out well in advance of July.

8 hours ago, Vee said:

I remember tripping out at Max because I remembered Jesse Soffer from the Brady Bunch movies (I think he went by Jesse Lee). Then he was gone overnight.

Haha yep - he originated the role, but was only there 3-4 months (April-July 1999). I really liked him, and enjoyed him on ATWT too.

4 hours ago, P.J. said:

Ugh---that kid. AWFUL. I suppose it wouldn't have mattered who was in the role, Bill was simply the patsy of the day for the big bad Ben and Carmen (RME) ....but that kid was a huge casting mistake.

I'm not certain, but I assume The Journal just kind of ceased being mentioned. I don't think any regular character ever worked there again.

Haha again, agree on this Bill recast - just doesn't work for me. Pilar isn't very engaging for me either, so that couple is a bit of a dud.

So they really didn't mention The Journal or Holly's job towards the end of the Nursery Rhyme Stalker story and her subsequent rehabilitation. I did just get to a random scene on 7/29 where Holly meets a ranch hand and she randomly asks to do a story on him, which he declines. That's the first time in a very long time that Holly mentions writing or working at The Journal, but not sure if she owns it.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by alwaysAMC

Thanks @Paul Raven for posting this interview with PFS! Lots to unpack here.

3 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

“Also, when I came on ‘Guiding Light*, there was to be no head writer per se. Evidently there had been many problems with strong head writers on Guiding Light’, and it was felt that they wanted the role of head writer decentralized.

This is clearly a reference to Marland. The fact that Marland quit because they fired Jane Elliot and brought his pet storyline to an end. So their solution to this was: no headwriter. I would assume that's why over the next few years there were usually co-headwriters, though Pam Long did have some periods where she was credited as the lone headwriter. We talk about her as if she was the sole headwriter for most of her time on GL, but she really wasn't. (Though she did get interviewed as if she was the sole headwriter).

It's kind of funny that Marland went on to have a long, successful tenure on ATWT as sole headwriter.

3 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

“When I joined Guiding Light I was told that in the past six years, none of the head writers had ever dealt with actors’ time off, vacations, etc. In other words, actors could request and get advance tape dates with their scenes shot ahead. When I came on to write, I had to deal with five major characters being unavailable. I made it clear on my first week with the soap during a meeting with the actors that I did not work that way, and that time off would not be granted at the whim of the performers. I must say that all the actors were very understanding.

THIS is interesting because when Kobe takes over as EP, apparently they went right back to advance taping, because that's what happened with Marsha Clark (Hillary) who went out to Hollywood for the 1984 pilot season. Which ticked off Kobe so much, she ended up firing her.

3 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Although she was unhappy about her release from Guiding Light, she said she is pleased that several “Guiding Light’’ actors took the time to write, stating their regret about her leaving and their pleasure with the scripts

I'll bet there were some actors feeling neglected and sidelined at the end of Marland's tenure--he was focusing a lot on his two muses, Elliot and Lisa Brown.

So this is one of the big "might of beens" that could have changed the trajectory for GL--maybe if they had picked up her option, they would have chosen a different EP than Kobe to replace Potter. Or if Kobe had been brought in, I could see there being a clash and she might been have been out soon anyway.

It seems GL was such a mess backstage from Douglas Marland departure until Robert Calhoun arrival.

In my life, GL had two golden eras, Potter/Dobsons/Marland and Calhoun/Long/Curlee.

PFS also didn't seem to be a P & G type of writer, and I'm sure she ruffled some feathers with her arrival because she wasn't an East Coaster, she worked for non-P&G soaps, and didn't have the P&G favoritism.

The soap opera world is just like any other corporation, it isn't about how good you are.. it's about how well you fit into a corporate culture. And I wonder if the actors were understanding to PFS's face about not having vacations on a whim, but silently complained behind the scenes.

Lastly, with Texas being canceled in December 1982... I'm sure that P & G had to figure out what to do with some of the performers and production the scenes.. and I'm sure Kobe was intended to cross over onto GL after Texas officially ended while deciding to instill a head-writer they knew could do the job (L Virginia, later the Cullitons, and finally Long).

6 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

And I wonder if the actors were understanding to PFS's face about not having vacations on a whim, but silently complained behind the scenes.

The Marcia Clark situation seems to confirm that was likely the case.

7 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

I'm sure that P & G had to figure out what to do with some of the performers and production the scenes..

From interviews with actors from cancelled P&G shows like EON and SFT, this is true. P&G put people on their other shows to run out their contracts. (Sharon Gabet, for instance, said she was given a choice of which P&G show she wanted to go to. She picked AW). This is probably why we got ex-Texas actors on GL. It wasn't just favoritism by Kobe or Long.

So, yeah, we were probably going to be lumbered with Kobe no matter what...now I wonder if Potter was asked to "retire."

It's interesting that they decided to take away power from sole headwriters, yet let Kobe do pretty much whatever she wanted as far as firing long-term and core family cast members.

Edited 3 minutes ago3 min by DeeVee