Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[dc11786]

On "Loving," Ryder and Walsh were hired under Fran Sears who was looking to bring the college back in focus. In fall of 1991, Mary Ryan Munisteri introduced Giff Bowman, an art professor, and the art studio. Trisha began to handle the Alden art collection which I believe was tied to the University. Ceara Connor crossed over to work at the University in the public relations role, I believe. In December, I believe Ally Rescott agreed to go to Alden University.

Ryder and Walsh arrived in January and launched phase 2 of the college in late March by launching all the fraternity / sorotity stories that last about one contract cycle. I want to say Granger arrived in May or June, 1992. Supposedly, she and Walsh clashed over story and according to Paul Anthony Stewart in a press article, there was no headwriter in the summer of 1992, but, as you stated, the writers were credited through the end of the contract. I suspect they probably came back at some point. 

The story I think Granger and Ryder fought over was Cooper's past sexual abuse history.  The show was leading to a conclusion where Cooper had been abused by his childhood nanny Selina. When we met Selina, Cooper and Selina revealed that twelve or thirteen year old Cooper had seduced his nanny Selina. When Walsh returned to headwriter in 1994 with Laurie McCarthy, there was a scene less than two months into Walsh's return where Cooper claimed that he had been sexually abused by Selina to Steffi when they were in the barn. 

I don't think Granger was well liked by some of the cast. Christopher Cass made a comment about her during the "Men of Loving" interview that was quickly scrubbed referring to her as "the South African" when referring to how things were going during the 1990s vs the 1980s. 

[P.J.]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for?

[alwaysAMC]

Early April 1995 - Rick Bauer just returned to town to help his dad with Eve's "illness".  He mentioned he didn't like how he left town before - how long has he been gone and what did he do before?  He seems like a nice guy haha.  They keep mentioning a sister Michelle, but haven't seen her yet.

There is a new actor playing David Grant now - wonder what happened to the other actor?

I'm really enjoying the A-M/Lucy/Brent triangle and the Dinah/Ross/Blake storyline!  Annie is acting weird and now starting to turn Josh away, not sure why.

[P.J.]

Rick left town in early '91 as part of the community service he was sentenced to. In '90, Phillip had been framed for the murder of Neil Everest, Beth's lover. (Beth had been presumed dead, and came back a mute amnesiac.) Phillip, with Rick's help, faked his death to avoid prosecution. (Rick's "help" was procuring a dead body for them to burn in a car accident I believe). Rick then married Beth, who was pregnant with Lizzie.

There was a point where Rick could've testified against Phillip for a lighter sentence (and Ed wanted him to), but he refused. 

This was a pattern in the Rick/Phillip relationship, with Rick getting pulled into Phillip's crazy life and trying to clean up the mess for Phillip. 

'95 may have been when they recast teen Michelle (Rachel Miner) with Rebecca Budig.

[VelekaCarruthers]

Thanks

Edited March 23 by VelekaCarruthers

[DRW50]

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[alwaysAMC]

Ahhh, Phillip sounds like an interesting character. I look forward to seeing him eventually.

I just got to the episode where Brent rapes Lucy.  Interesting turn, as I actually bought into Brent being a good guy and Lucy really enjoying dating him.  It almost came out of nowhere because they were swimming and kissing only a few episodes ago.  I guess Alan-Michael was always meant to be endgame here.

Ironically enough, I just met Michelle and it's not Rebecca, so I guess she'll come in later in the year.  This teen actress is a little wooden.  LOL wait, this girl ends up marrying Macaulay Culkin in real life?? 

From the dialogue, it seems like Eve had a sketchy history and had to prove herself to the residents of Springfield.  Was she a controversial partner for Ed at the time?  I think I missed something critical during the OJ Simpson preemptions/lost episodes because Eve is now having surgery, which is what keeps Rick in town, and it doesn't seem to be related to her pregnancy.  I saw Eve be told she's pregnant, and Ed overheard but didn't tell her he knew... then they're planning to get married at city hall, so the ladies throw her a quick wedding shower.  They then leave to get married and she collapses.  Now Rick is in town to help Ed do her surgery, and I can't tell what the surgery is for or if she's still pregnant and if Ed/Eve have talked about it.  This is the only storyline where I feel like I missed something important.

Oh!  Annie just saw Rick at the hospital and had a shocked reaction, I guess she knows him...

[bboy875]

When the writers won the Emmy in 1990, Jones and Curlee were listed as Associate Headwriters, Ryder as story consultant, according to an Emmy book I have from the mid 90's which lists all the nominees from both daytime and prime time. Some years, like 89 and 90, they listed individual writers' titles. I know when nominated in 89, Jones was listed as Associate Hw and Curlee as Assistant HW. I'm not sure about Ryder. I'll have to see if I could find the book

[Contessa Donatella]

I absolutely, totally, completely LOVED Rachel Miner & Bryan Buffington as young Michelle & Bill & will die on that hill trying to argue down anyone who does not share that love!!!! You have been fairly warned. LOL!!! And, yes, Eve was a square peg in an  octagonal shaped hole!!! 

Didn't the triumvirate begin in 1990? (Curlee-Demorest-Reilly) And, who is Jones? 

[bboy875]

Just checked IMDB Emmy section and they have the same info I have. Ryder isn't listed in 1989, I'm assuming he wasn't there during the Emmy eligibility period

Trent Jones. The trio wasn't named until the end of 1990 and their material began airing at the beginning of 91

[P.J.]

Roger and Alex brought Eve to town in '92 to break up Nick and Mindy's relationship. (Eve was an old girlfriend; and she didn't realize she was their pawn) Nick and Mindy were about to get married, when Mindy left town (Mindy had altered Nick's DNA test results; she didn't want him to know he was Alex's son. Alex found out and told Mindy Nick knew and wasn't going to marry her)

Eve was suffering PTSD from being a political prisoner in some godforsaken country (she was gang-raped), and glommed on to Nick. Nick and Eve hooked up. When Mindy came back in early '93, Eve realized Nick was still in love with Mindy. She started acting weird, she tore up Mindy's photos of her and Nick, she made it seem like Mindy was stalking her, she trashed her own car with a baseball bat and made it look like Mindy had done it. She even put on a wig and acted like Mindy while on a trip with Nick.

It all hit the fan on the night of Mindy's fashion show. Eve stole the show-stopper wedding gown that Mindy was going to model. She also drugged Mindy's water right before Mindy got into her car to drive her and her brother Bill (Billy and Vanessa's son) and they got into a car accident. She then doctored the blood alcohol test to make it appear that Mindy was drunk. By this time Nick and Ed have caught on, and Eve really flips, ties Mindy up and nearly takes a header off the lighthouse. Ed talked her down and got her treatment.

I haven't watched much of GL '94, but I assume they were a controversial couple because she was his first relationship after Maureen died (and everyone loved Maureen). 

[Contessa Donatella]

I think the reasons were pretty multi-layered. People were concerned about Michelle. People were mad about Mo & missed her.  People felt like Ed paid NO PRICE at all for the affair with Lillian, who did pay a high price. Last but definitely not least Eve was crazy from jump. 

[Kane]

Just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying reading your thoughts on 1995. I recently did a watch of that year myself, having not seen it since it originally aired. The Brent Lawrence story was the one that got me watching GL, having previously been a total loyalist to the ABC shows. I've been steadily making my way through '90s GL and am currently in March '97 myself, which is just about the time I stopped regularly watching the show in real time.

I often refer to this timeline: https://www.anybrowser.org/soaps/gl/timeline.shtml, though it only goes as far as the summer of 1998, as I understand the clone story was a bridge too far for the writer.

[alwaysAMC]

LOL - sorry

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 Maybe I'll warm up to her, but it doesn't sound like there is much time left, as Budig comes in later this year in '95, which I'm really excited about because I loved her on AMC.

Wow - that is a wild ride that I really want to go watch haha.  The Eve of 1995 is not at all like that - she sees to just be a nice quiet lady (aka boring haha).  I'm now at the part where she got out of surgery and it sounds like a blood disease or something that she picked up from her time in the war (which war?  I guess it was the third world country you mentioned haha).  

That is awesome!  Happy to hear it    I'd love to hear your thoughts from '95 too, when you've got time.  I'm really enjoying it!  Are you watching the episodes through this same YouTube link that I am? 

Edited March 23 by alwaysAMC

[P.J.]

LOL...Nick and Mindy's non-wedding coincides (or at least kicks off) the Blackout of '92, which fans usually cite as a favorite story (or group of episodes). It coincides with GL's anniversary week. For a while, GL really tried to do a "big" event that week of the year.