Guiding Light Discussion Thread

[TEdgeofNight]

Jerry verDorn himself on The Locher Room said that he never knew which version of Jane he’d get. It was clear that he meant the actress, not character. I never implied anything else. I posted about what I personally witnessed, which goes along with what Jerry said. They obviously respected each other but that doesn’t mean everything was smooth sailing. 
Speaking of Jerry’s fan club luncheons, they were great! I went to 2 of them. (Not the one Jane was at). Marie Lukasik, Jerry’s fan club president, was a friend of mine. She could get members of Jerry’s fan club into the studio to watch a taping. Thus my encounter watching Jane’s antics. 

[TheyStartedOnSoaps]

I think it was terrifc how gracious Jerry and his wife were with the fans and those luncheons

Now is it possible that Jane blew up because there were visitors on the set that day (as you witnessed). Because one of the reasons Soap Opera tours were rare, is because actor don't like many people on the set - as it detracts from their concentration when a doing a scene. Maybe Jane was doing a very important scene that day, and no one told her there are visitors on the set watching her perform. 

Edited April 20 by TheyStartedOnSoaps

[P.J.]

Am I wrong in remembering that Sofia Landon-Geier wanted to leave, but was surprised that Diane was killed?

It might've made more sense in the end to kill off Andy for the murder mystery, which could've involved nearly all the same characters. Then again, Andy was connected to Holly and Barbara. At some point, they could've been reintroduced. And recasting Landon was bound to be difficult.

[chrisml]

What did GL submit the year that ATWT won for Angel's rape storyline? Does anyone remember?

 

Edited April 20 by chrisml

[DRW50]

That period seemed so averse to sex appeal. I was watching Trish's last scene yesterday (Vanessa is so sad, it breaks your heart a little), and Ross gives Trish a very passionate, tender goodbye kiss. I was reminded that Ross often was a passionate man. I assume the idea was that this Carrie was meant to be more cute than sexy because one of the Carrie alters represented her sexuality, but I do think that the Ross we knew would not have been so happy with just '40s style banter.

Thanks. The handling of Vanessa at that time always seemed to be whatever the plot demanded. If Marland had stayed I imagine she would have finally gotten around to bedding Floyd, Kelly, Justin and Mike.

(Vanessa/Justin could have made for a strong pairing, as Vanessa isn't far off early Jackie)

I often forget Warren was even meant to be a villain, although I know he did turn into a killer and held India hostage, or whatever went on. The main parts I remember with him when I watch his run is Alexandra's sassy friend, who I guess was meant to be in love with her (Henry/Katie, look out!). The show never really did have a good villain in those years, or for many years. Edmund in later years sort of worked, but the writing for him was such a mess and relied on DAM. If they hadn't taken Will Jeffries too far, he could have worked. 

And thanks for the answers about Hilary and Josh. You are right that Hilary could have been used to befriend anyone across the canvas. Of course, that's why she was killed...can't have that type of character on the show.

I so agree about Diane. I do hope it was Sofia's choice to leave. If not, what a mistake. She is so compelling to watch and has so many layers even though on paper she should have been as much of a plot device as early Vanessa often was.

I have seen so little of Alan/Rita, but you make them sound like what could have been a fantastic pairing for Alan (although it couldn't have lasted even if Lenore had stayed, given their personalities). If story plans had to be cut short, that helps explain why Alan is at such a lull (wasn't Bernau also ill at this time or am I mistaken?). The focus on repairing his marriage to Hope is a bit flat, made worse by Marland draining all the life from Hope.

[P.J.]

Who asked about the character of Gina? This is from 1984 (in spite of what the title says)

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[DeeVee]

The time period here was 1981. Alan and Hope were very front burner for almost that entire year. After Hope gives birth, the story is about the Diane/Joe Bradley murders. Because of evidence Diane had about Alan's association with Roger, Alan takes Hope and the baby out of the country. Mike gets to do the truth, justice, and the American way thing and tracks Alan down. Alan could have left Mike to die, but he didn't, and then he turned himself in. So Marland did a redemption arc for him. He paid for his crimes with Roger and went to jail. When he came out, he quit Spaulding. He and Hope (who forgave everything, yes, Marland never gave her anything significant to do outside of Alan) went to live in a smaller house and were on the back burner for a while. Alan and Mike were even friendly for a time. 

Then Marland abruptly left the show. I doubt he would have left Alan and Hope on the back burner. I'm pretty sure the plan was to bring back Rita. Originally, she was going to come back to cause trouble for Ed and Vanessa, but they realized that pairing wasn't working, so they brought in Maureen for Ed. They strongly hinted Rita was pregnant when she left town, and the thinking is she would have sashayed back to Springfield with a kid to blow up Ed and Maureen and Alan and Hope.

When new writers came in, they probably didn't want to bring back a character that was off the canvas before they started. Also, executive producer Allen Potter left soon after Marland. If he had still been there he might have pushed the new writers to bring back Rita. The writers before Pam Long took over started showing fissures in Alan and Hope's marriage and put Alan back in charge of Spaulding, so they obviously didn't want to keep them as happy and boring. When Gail Kobe took over as EP she wanted to get rid of a bunch of characters, including Hope, so they had Alan completely revert back to the way he was before he married Hope.

Bernau's first exit wasn't until 1983. I don't know if that was because of his illness. It was probably the end of his second 3 year contract so he might have just wanted to take a break.

[DRW50]

Thanks. I couldn't remember if he was off for a bit while in prison. 

I wonder if they would have recast Rita or if Lenore was willing to return.

The pregnancy fits with the later rumors they were going to make Gus her son with Alan.

[Contessa Donatella]

Was this when P&G asked the Dobsons to switch with Marland?

[P.J.]

In 1982, Vanessa is very much used to advance other plots. While it's not exactly out-of-character, she's markedly colder and more controlling. She does thaw a bit towards the end of the year. By the end of the year, she has mended some fences with Ross, which is nice to see. I do wonder where Marland would've taken Vanessa had he stayed. He'd reset both Nola and Ross...so he did like to give his gray characters a redemption. 

I've caught some more of Trish and early Trish/Ross, and can't help but think they mishandled them. It seems like Chris Bernau's exit kind of stymied the progression of their romance, as they now don't really have an outside enemy to fight against.

Warren started out as a slimy user, and somehow got involved with Alan, who used him to set up Ross on drug charges. He's then involved in trying to use the Dreaming Death research as a bio-weapon, (or something, I'm not revisiting that RME story to get deets...lol) and then he's Alex's henchman who comes up with a way to force the Chamberlains out of Spaulding (or at least selling their controlling interest) by making Quint and Henry think Vanessa could still face charges over the Josslyn Electronics kickbacks. He was always trying to curry Alex's favor, hoping to become  a kept man. 

[Tisy-Lish]

It would have been so much more compelling and believable, had they played Warren as openly gay.  A sexless straight baddy/sidekick really doesn't work. Writing Warren like the eunuch version of Roger Thorpe was a head scratcher...

[P.J.]

Warren got enough, at least in the beginning. He stole Lesley Ann away from Floyd and married her, and he was sleeping with Alex when she first came to town. I'm not sure how long it went on, but he was not a eunuch.

[chrisml]

I did. Thank you so much for this. I had no idea this character even existed until two weeks ago

[Tisy-Lish]

Slept with Alex?  Poor Beverlee...

Edited April 21 by Tisy-Lish

[TEdgeofNight]

Jerry and Beth were fabulous people. His luncheons were fun. Marie, his fan club president, put on a great gathering. 
Unfortunately, your scenario about Jane is not what happened. The blowup I witnessed was not during an important scene. Actually the scene was quite routine and it was before Carrie split into different personalities. I was the only visitor, standing way off to the side. Jane would have had no idea that I was there.