Guiding Light discussion thread

[alwaysAMC]

 

 

Thank you all!  Wow, I'm so saddened by the fact that he died so young, and soon after this amazing scene.  He was such a talent and that scene makes me wish I had a slow sax/jazz playlist of all the soap themes.  I hope I get to know his character more as I continue my watch.  It's sad, and typical of most soaps in that time, to not highlight their black characters in the 90s.  In the 5 months I've watched GL '95, I've only been introduced to Gilly and Sid maybe 7-8 times, her parents 3-4 times, and Hamp here twice.  David has been around in the background a lot with Lucy and Bridgett here and there, played by two different actors.  

He passed younger than I am now, which always weirds me out when I watch soaps from the 90s.  Aside from Lucy, AM, Brent, Bridget, Dinah and David, all these characters still look older than I am today, even though they were the same age or younger than I am today... but its a  psychological thing given I was a pre-teen and teen during the 90s, watching AMC daily and OLTL/GH periodically.  They looked older then and they always will today.  

[DRW50]

Soapcentral claims late December 1981. I suppose that could fit. 

I know the paternity story must have been mentioned, but by the time I first really saw Philip (when he returned in 1996 - I had "seen" him when I started watching GL around '90 but didn't pay a great deal of attention), I felt like most of the angst over that part of their history had passed. And when I go back to the '80s, I know the tension is there, like Philip taking over the company and booting Alan, but due to many factors (Grant leaving and returning, Chris leaving and returning, Justin never being around aside from his ill-fated 90-91 stint after Alan was already gone), I don't feel the impact as much as I think the revelation and buildup warranted.

 

Joan was also capable of playing some softer moments on Dynasty. Elizabeth was fragile but also had some distance, some steel. Not off Joan's persona.

Block was a fascinating presence on GL, but other than fighting over Blake, nothing was done with his Marler ties. Nothing with Justin or Lainie (I was surprised she was even mentioned - not sure she or Justin ever were again after that). Having him as the Spaulding heir could have been more compelling, at least if the Spauldings had been in stronger shape.

I would have had proper Alan and Alex recasts around this time, an Alan-Michael recast, the Vicky story much stronger (hell, even at the level of Dominique on Dynasty - never strong as a story, but a compelling presence and balance to the other dynamics). Philip might have felt left behind with the changing dynamics, especially with Harley not wanting to be a part of the Spaulding world again. 

I might have done a story similar to Clay and Alex on Loving where the "real" heir arrives, but Philip believes he is an imposter. Similar to when he was sure Beth was alive, no one believes him. Maybe even have Beth get involved with him, partly to hurt Philip and partly because she is genuinely enchanted by him. 

Then it's a real "be careful what you wish for" moment as the "real" heir, when found by Philip, has a very hard edge, only a handful of people able to see past that edge, similar to Roger in many ways. And his arrival knocks the family completely off balance, along with his simmering resentment at the family preferring the con artist heir to him. 

Meanwhile, Philip would, yet again, cut ties with the family and try for a normal life, maybe this even being a reason to bring in Sam, Lainie, or Justin as he reconnects with his Marler roots (maybe Lainie or Sam are dying, Justin is doing all he can to save her, and Philip ensnares Rick and Ross into taking career-ending risks to save her life). But he will always go back to Spaulding, especially as both of the new/old/true/false heirs lurch to a place of mutual destruction.

You could also work Elizabeth, or a Jackie return from the dead storyline into the midst. Another Alan/Jackie marriage, this one more based on honesty and a twisted acceptance.

Edited 21 hours ago by DRW50

[Mitch64]

I like that idea....she is the toast or Europe and Phillip could be angry at her for not ever contacting her but the reason was, she was afraid of her craziness coming back and she feels quilt over abandoning him. They could have played on the old Alexis returning plot in publicity (which is fine thought it would play differently)

It would have given Joan more meat then just unnerving Alan (which was fun as hell just the same) and they could have followed some of the same points including the ex wives club (instead of her taking over I would have her get a major investment in Spaulding and seat on the board to bedevil Alan. I just think Alex without Bev, just doesn't work so leave her off camera.

  My old rugby team mates (GL would play at the clubhouse do to me watching it once in a while ) thought she was "Hot as f*ck" and had no interest in Reva!

[Mitch64]

I always wanted Nola to buy it and turn it into an Art Deco 1930s/40s film fantasy club thing...I loved the Towers and CC bar set. 

Love Hamp and love Gilly (so sorry for what incestuous crap McTrash is about to throw her way..) was this one of his last appearances...( I know he is at the misquide Holly/Fletch wedding.) Loved GL's music montage and this particular version of the theme...classy, sexy, a bit morose, a bit cheerful, all GL. 

Lord, they ruined it with Mattessa...why did they put that Mom hair on MK when they were putting her with him? What was with them having people screw while the BBBQ takes place, they had Rick and Abby once and here.." Ed, sorry I'm late, here is the potato salad..oh, uh Van when you done going down on Matt could you tell me if there is another bowl to put it in""

[Contessa Donatella]

I'm with them!!!

[P.J.]

I would be surprised if it's 1981, but then again, 1982 (especially the first half) is all Carrie Carrie Carrie.

I don't find Hunt Block fascinating so....but I can see where the Phillip story could've gone had they not fired O'Rourke and CB's health hadn't led to his leaving in 84. It was always easier to understand the rancor between Phillip and Pilon's and Raines' Alans, as they never had the established bond that GA and CB had.

You won't in '95. Hamp has a much bigger presence in '89-'93, although if I'm honest, he doesn't get as much story as he should have. Hamp really is one of those comforting and sane presences around town. Interestingly enough, Hamp is both Fletch and Billy's friend when they're low-key fighting over Vanessa.

Edited 10 hours ago by P.J.

[alwaysAMC]

Ugh, I'm just about to get to Fletcher and Holly's wedding on my '95 watch, but I'm glad to know he'll be there.  I finally noticed that Hamp has a still shot in the ending credits, playing the sax.  GL really does have a great theme and his sax version is just so good.  I tried finding some renditions on Spotify, but sadly there isn't much out there.  I found a great version of the AMC and GH themes from a group called Mount Royal Orchestra, but sadly no GL.

LOL at your 'Mom hair' comment.  I've thought the same thing about how matronly Vanessa looks right now, especially when paired with hunky Matt.  I googled her age when I first started my watch and was surprised to see she was 49-50 years old at the time, and still getting nice love scenes!

Edited 9 hours ago by alwaysAMC

[Mitch64]

I would have LOVED that storyline.  Unlike other's here, I really like HB (can understand their aversion to his Craig.) But he does give that Ivy League Privileged aura that GA gives, which might be good or bad (my conception of the heir would be a guy brought up in poverty, that really, really WANTS everything the Spauldings can give him..and finds Phillip a fool...he would be hungry and ruthless in ways the Spaudlings could never understand in that they had their wealth and power at all times..) A recast Alex would have been great, especially since at this time Marj was off so there was room for a new actress..(I always thought Lara Parker would be great..she gives off the elegance but will cut you vibe) but I don't know if you could recast Alan and Alex at the same time.

I never understood the Vickie story dropping..I know GL had its head up Reva's ass the whole time, but they needed to develop other stories characters and Vickie would be the one, but they cast such bland actresses and the character should be playing everyone against each other as the insider/ousider. 

[P.J.]

While I loathe Matt with the heat of a thousand suns....the only positive thing I will say about that era is that they gave Maeve her due. They could've pushed her into some dusty corner of Springfield, as they tended to do with actresses past a certain age. It's actually slightly funny to me they push her into "damsel in distress" type stories that she never really played when she started out.

[alwaysAMC]

Haha oh no, dare I ask why you loathe Matt so much?  I don't know how Matt, Vanessa or their relationship ends up in the end, but so far he seems sweet and loving

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[P.J.]

If I were honest, it's 85% because he's not Billy, (Jordan Clarke is a far superior actor) and 15% because Matt is simply a dull, stock character. 

It's supposed to be "edgy" that Vanessa took a younger, blue-collar lover, but honestly, he's nothing more than an younger version of Fletcher. 

Spoiler alert

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Edited 6 hours ago by P.J.

[alwaysAMC]

You've got a great memory!  Just got to July 7th and it's the Holly/Fletcher wedding and Hamp is there playing the wedding entrance music on his sax.  Best thing about the wedding haha...  well until Roger shows up!  Great Friday cliffhanger haha.

Oh no!  I couldn't resist and read the spoiler since I assume it'll be forever until I get to it haha.  But I don't love that they redid everything I'm watching now.  Dinah has tried hard to seduce Matt but he has no interest and is staying committed to Vanessa.  I see Dinah doesn't change her ways though haha.  

[P.J.]

Well, honestly, you'd have to be a flippin' saint to go all the way to the end. But Matt and Vanessa leave town in '00, and only have a handful of appearances between '00 and '06. 

But yeah, Dinah doesn't change that much. She never really grows as a character.

[Vee]

I thought Matt took advantage of Dinah after her brain injury in the 2000s tbh. That was a queasy, interesting story Gina Tognoni played very well but Matt came off like scum to me.

[P.J.]

Well, there was always this underlying squicky attraction/hostility push-pull between them. It was no secret--even when Vanessa imagined (or got shown the future with Mo's visit) the future, they were in some co-dependent relationship from hell.

But yeah, Matt does not look good in that story. I don't know if he's taking advantage of Dinah, or passive-aggressively giving Vanessa an FU by screwing her daughter.