Yup, GL did briefly hit #1 in 1984. 

Marland's writing for GL started airing in January of 1980, I believe. Marland left in protest in 1982 after GL EP Allen Potter fired Jane Elliott (who played Carrie Marler).

Ah…Jane Elliott is one great actress. Don't know what Allen Potter was thinking …Im sure Jane misses Marland's writing these days. 

He disliked the storyline and thought it had to end.

 

It seems like contemporary opinion was not nearly as kind to Marland's GL as it was to his GH or ATWT, from fan letters and things at that time. I can sort of see why, although some of it's good.

I thought I recall GL briefly going back in up ratings in either 1983 or 1984 (1984 was the year in which GL was supposedly the top rated soap for a brief period, but I think that was nixed previously in this thread)?

Guiding Light definitely hit #1 in the ratings for about three weeks in July 1984. I remember it well because Entertainment Tonight aired a story about GL's ratings surge.

Thanks for the confirmation! I originally thought it had as well, but there was a discussion previously in this thread that said it didn't happen, as it was actually Y&R that was #1 after GH was dethroned from the top spot.

Also, rumor has it that Jane was not beloved by the cast....JVD did not want to work with her anymore, and the rest of them thought she was just a biotch..

Marland wanted her to go through therapy...can you imagine, it would be like the Iva Snyder therapy sessions...AGGGHHHH.

Also, rumor has it that Jane was not beloved by the cast....JVD did not want to work with her anymore, and the rest of them thought she was just a biotch..

Marland wanted her to go through therapy...can you imagine, it would be like the Iva Snyder therapy sessions...AGGGHHHH.

How long did Marland plan to have that therapy continue for, a year? I assume therapy would have meant the revealing of even more personalities?

Also, rumor has it that Jane was not beloved by the cast....JVD did not want to work with her anymore, and the rest of them thought she was just a biotch..

Marland wanted her to go through therapy...can you imagine, it would be like the Iva Snyder therapy sessions...AGGGHHHH.

JVD and Jane adore each other. Calling Bull to the [!@#$%^&*] on that rumor.

JVD and Jane adore each other. Calling Bull to the [!@#$%^&*] on that rumor.

This would have been something that happened 35 years ago. It's perfectly feasible that they clashed and then made up.

Someone is uploading early 1990 episodes.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpasRwPruLalHkJjPc3pgvA

Thanks!

I recall Jane signed a 1 year contract and obviously Marland was sure she would continue but Potter used it as a way to dump her.Maybe budget had something to do with it as P&G were starting their cutbacks and ridding themselves of pricey vets. Jane probably had a raise in pay if she signed to a second year.

After Jane Elliot's dismissal, it was reported that Allen Potter felt the ratings during the initial part of the Carrie Todd story did not justify the saga continuing. This angered Douglas Marland, who had had additional plans for the character. While ratings do matter, I am a firm believer in allowing writers like Marland the freedom to write as they see fit. In any case, during the 1981/82 season, in which Elliot appeared, TGL had a rating of 8.0. This was quite healthy, considering the show was pitted against GH, which was a cultural phenomenon and the center of so much hype and media attention at that time.

 

After Marland left the show, I had high hopes for Springfield when the great Pat Falken Smith took over the writing reigns. Upon her abrupt dismissal, however, the bottom simply fell out and the show went into free fall. The annihilation of the Bauer family, the gutting of numerous vets, and the noticeable changes in the series' style and tone were harmful to TGL, and made all the worse by a revolving door of writers, and by unfamiliar faces parading across the screen. By the 1989/90 season, TGL's ratings had plunged to a precarious 5.4.

 

The 1980s were not the best of times for TGL. As a decades-long viewer, I would have eagerly accepted  more Carrie Todd over a screaming Reva any day.

Edited April 7, 20169 yr by vetsoapfan

After being the town mattress, I wasn't surprised Olivia moved on to women...Which man didn't she sleep with?

Sucks how Jill Lorie Hurst never landed another job at another daytime soap. I thought she was phenomenal during GL's final year. Sucks no one tried to even scoop her up post GL.

Sucks how Jill Lorie Hurst never landed another job at another daytime soap. I thought she was phenomenal during GL's final year. Sucks no one tried to even scoop her up post GL.

Now I'd like to see her as GH's HW