Guiding Light discussion thread

[redontop4]

 

Agreed. The fall of '93 through January '94 was outstanding on GL. In February it came unraveled--quickly--and by summer it was pretty bad, though not without its moments. Never have I seen a soap fall so far so fast. SMH.

[kalbir]

 

 

Nancy Curlee leaves the writing team at end of 1993 or beginning of 1994, correct? I know JFP remains as EP until May 1995.

[BetterForgotten]

Yes, Curlee left in the very early part of '94. I can't remember when exactly, but it was definitely between January-March on '94.

[Contessa Donatella]

My favorite "Otalia" scene is outside, the morning of the planned wedding, in the graveyard, in the cold snow & afterward in the gazebo. First, is Olivia getting so overcome that she shouts out to Natalia, "I'm IN LOVE with you!" This scene was written by Donna Swajeski.

[Contessa Donatella]

Everyone was very busy & very rushed doing the writing at GL. Every day Ellen Wheeler & Jill Lorie Hurst would read the Otalia scenes aloud, checking them, etc.

[victoria foxton]

 

[Contessa Donatella]

 

Blog 319 Nancy Curlee Demorest

 

Nancy Curlee is an American soap opera writer. She was head writer of Guiding Light from 1990 to 1994. Her time at the helm of GL is often considered a golden period for the show.

Curlee is married to fellow soap opera writer Stephen Demorest. She retired to be a full-time mother. She has been nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards. In 1993, Curlee and her GL writing team won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team.^[1]

 

Her last GL writing team consisted of Stephen Demorest, Lorraine Broderick, James E. Reilly, Nancy Williams Watt, Michael Conforti, Bill Elverman, James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten, Roger Newman, Trent Jones, N. Gail Lawrence, Pete T. Rich, Sally Mandel, Patrick Mulcahey, Dorothy Ann Purser, Peggy Schibi, Courtney Simon, and Wisner Washam

 

Positions held

Guiding Light

Co-head writer: 1990 - 1994

Breakdown Writer: 1987 - 1990

Script Writer: 1985 - 1990

ABC Daytime

Story Consultant: 1996 - 1998

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

WINS

(1986, 1990 & 1993; Best Writing; Guiding Light)

NOMINATIONS

(1989 & 1992; Best Writing; Guiding Light)

Writers Guild of America Award

WINS

(1992 season; Guiding Light)

NOMINATIONS

(1989 & 1995 seasons; Guiding Light)

Head writing tenure

Preceded by
Pam Long   Head writer of Guiding Light
(with Stephen Demorest)
(with James E. Reilly: 1991 – 1992)
(with Lorraine Broderick: 1992 – 1993)
1991– 1994   Succeeded by
Stephen Demorest
Patrick Mulcahey
Nancy Williams Watt

January 1990 � Roger Thorpe is accused of being Chelsea Reardon's stalker.

January 1990 � Holly Norris is accused of being Chelsea Reardon's stalker.

January 4, 90 � Roger Thorpe attempts to blackmail Vanessa Chamberlain.

January 9, 90 � Neil Everest is falsely accused of raping Beth Raines.

February 1990 � Frank Cooper & Dana Jones get engaged.

February 1990 � Shayne Lewis is born.

February 1990 � Dana Jones & Frank Cooper split up.

February 1990 � Fifth Street fire.

February 1990 � "Pops" Cooper dies.

February 14, 1990 � Phillip Spaulding & Beth Raines become engaged.

February 23, 90 � Roger Thorpe and Henry Chamberlain play a high stakes poker game.

March 1990 � Dana Jones dies.

March 6, 90 � Gary Swanson and Blake Thorpe Spaulding break into the trailer of Neil Everest.

March 6, 90 � Blake Thorpe Spaulding callously ruins some of Beth Raines' artwork.

March 12, 1990 � Alexandra Spaulding & Roger Thorpe wed.

March 19, 1990 � Beth Raines announces that she's pregnant.

March 28, 90 � Blake Thorpe Spaulding illegally searches the medical records of Beth Raines.

March 28, 90 � Ross Marler and Reva Shayne get into an argument.

March 29, 90 � Roger Thorpe and Holly Norris are accused of having an affair.

April 17, 90 � Roger Thorpe and Vanessa Chamberlain are accused of having an affair.

April 18, 90 � Blake Thorpe Spaulding fakes a pregnancy test.

April 20, 90 � Dylan Lewis crosses state lines with Samantha Marler, a minor.

April 23, 1990 � Beth Raines learns who the father of her unborn child is.

May 1990 � Reva Shayne leaves town.

May 1990 � Harley Cooper begins working as nanny for the Lewis family.

May 4, 90 � Alan-Michael Spaulding blackmails Alex and Phillip Spaulding for access to his trust fund.

May 14, 1990 � Justin Marler & Daniel St. John return to town.

May 14, 1990 � Johnny Bauer leaves town.

May 14, 90 � Roger Thorpe steals a deed from Ruth Price.

May 16, 90 � Reva Shayne accuses Vanessa Chamberlain of having an affair with Josh Lewis.

May 21, 90 � Ruth Price is kidnapped.

May 23, 90 � Reva Shayne makes a scene at the Springfield Country Club by dancing on the tables and stripping.

June 1990 � Roger Thorpe takes over Towers.

June 1990 � There is an explosion at Towers.

June 1990 � Neil Everest dies.

June 1990 � Gary Swanson is shot.

June 1990 � Blake & Phillip Spaulding divorce.

June 1990 � Harley & Alan-Michael Spaulding divorce.

June 1990 � Blake Thorpe & Alan-Michael Spaulding marry.

June 1990 � Alan-Michael Spaulding is kidnapped.

June 1, 90 � Roger Thorpe blackmails Billy Lewis.

June 29, 90 � Reva Shayne attempts to smother Shayne Lewis.

July 1990 � Ross Marler & Holly Norris get engaged.

July 10, 1990 � It is revealed that Alan Spaulding kidnapped Beth and hid her, many years ago.

July 20, 90 � Reva Shayne steals clothing from a store in Florida as well as a car.

July 23, 90 � Reva Shayne drives off a bridge in the Florida Keys and is presumed dead.

July 23, 90 � Samantha Marler is paralyzed.

August 1990 � Phillip Spaulding fakes his own death.

August 1990 � Blake Spaulding has a "miscarriage."

August 1990 � A.C. Mallet is introduced.

September 1990 � Marah Lewis begins school.

September 17, 1990 � Beth Raines & Rick Bauer marry.

September 17, 1990 � India Von Halkein returns to town.

September 17, 1990 � Samantha Marler turns 18.

October 1990 � Ross Marler & Holly Norris break up.

October 4, 1990 � Phillip Spaulding returns to town.

November 26, 1990 � Alan-Michael Spaulding and Blake Thorpe Spaulding are kidnapped.

November 26, 1990 � Blake Thorpe Spaulding attempts to kill Gary Swanson.

November 26, 90 � Alan �Michael Spaulding is accidentally shot.

November 26, 90 � Blake Thorpe Spaulding is jailed for shooting and killing Alan-Michael Spaulding.

November 28, 1990 � Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spaulding is born.

December 1990 � Harley Cooper begins working in a design firm for Mindy Lewis.

December 1990 � Rick Bauer loses his medical license

December 10, 1990 � Phillip Spaulding is exonerated on all charges.

December 10, 1990 � Gary Swanson learns about Blake Thorpe's faked pregnancy.

December 24, 1990 � Harley leaves town.

December 24, 1990 � Hampton Speakes & Gilly Grant become engaged.

December 31, 1990 � Harley Cooper & Josh Lewis get engaged.

 

January 1991 � India Von Halkein leaves town.

January 1991 � Guiding Light changes its opening theme and music.

January 1991 � Blake & Alan-Michael Spaulding divorce.

January 1991 � Josh goes to Italy.

January 1991 � Vanessa Chamberlain is named president of Lewis Oil.

January 1991 � Rick Bauer leaves Springfield.

January 1991 � Samantha Marler has her operation.

January 1991 � Billy Lewis and Nadine Cooper marry.

January 1991 � Mindy Lewis goes to Chicago with Roger Thorpe.

February 1991 � Beth Raines and Phillip Spaulding wed.

March 5, 1991 � Suzanne Devereaux appears in Springfield.

March 11, 1991 � Kat Speakes is introduced.

March 14, 1991 - Francesca  Vizzini comes to town.

March 26, 1991 � Mindy Lewis is pregnant.

April 2, 1991 � Hart Jessup appears in town.

April 1991 � Josh Lewis and Harley Cooper break up.

April 1991 � Marah & Shayne Lewis join their father in Italy.

April 1991 � Stavros Kouperakis and Eleni Andros arrive in Springfield.

April 16, 1991 � Grandpa Jessup dies.

May 7, 1991 � Mindy Lewis suffers a miscarriage.

May 7, 1991 � Roger Thorpe learns that Hart Jessup is his son.

May 21, 1991 � Bridget Reardon appears in Springfield.

July 1991 � A.C. Mallet is beat up.

July 4, 1991 � Alexandra Spaulding and Roger Thorpe divorce.

July 1991 � Billy & Nadine Lewis renew their vows.

July 1991 � Nick McHenry is introduced.

July 1991 � Julie Camaletti is introduced.

August 1991 � Harley Cooper is arrested for prostitution.

September 1991 � Harley Cooper joins the police academy.

September 1991 � A.C. Mallet joins the police force.

September 1991 � Vanessa Chamberlain wins the 'Man of the Year' award.

September 1991 � Jean Wetherill moves to Springfield.

October 1991 � Dylan Lewis is injured in an explosion.

October 1991 � Daniel St.John is named as the head of neurology at Cedars Hospital.

November 1991 � Jean Wetherill dies.

December 1991 � Daniel  St.John and Holly Norris are engaged.

December 1991 � Alexandra Spaulding learns she had twins many years ago.

 

January 1991 � India Von Halkein leaves town.

January 1991 � Guiding Light changes its opening theme and music.

January 1991 � Blake & Alan-Michael Spaulding divorce.

January 1991 � Josh goes to Italy.

January 1991 � Vanessa Chamberlain is named president of Lewis Oil.

January 1991 � Rick Bauer leaves Springfield.

January 1991 � Samantha Marler has her operation.

January 1991 � Billy Lewis and Nadine Cooper marry.

January 1991 � Mindy Lewis goes to Chicago with Roger Thorpe.

February 1991 � Beth Raines and Phillip Spaulding wed.

March 5, 1991 � Suzanne Devereaux appears in Springfield.

March 11, 1991 � Kat Speakes is introduced.

March 14, 1991 - Francesca  Vizzini comes to town.

March 26, 1991 � Mindy Lewis is pregnant.

April 2, 1991 � Hart Jessup appears in town.

April 1991 � Josh Lewis and Harley Cooper break up.

April 1991 � Marah & Shayne Lewis join their father in Italy.

April 1991 � Stavros Kouperakis and Eleni Andros arrive in Springfield.

April 16, 1991 � Grandpa Jessup dies.

May 7, 1991 � Mindy Lewis suffers a miscarriage.

May 7, 1991 � Roger Thorpe learns that Hart Jessup is his son.

May 21, 1991 � Bridget Reardon appears in Springfield.

July 1991 � A.C. Mallet is beat up.

July 4, 1991 � Alexandra Spaulding and Roger Thorpe divorce.

July 1991 � Billy & Nadine Lewis renew their vows.

July 1991 � Nick McHenry is introduced.

July 1991 � Julie Camaletti is introduced.

August 1991 � Harley Cooper is arrested for prostitution.

September 1991 � Harley Cooper joins the police academy.

September 1991 � A.C. Mallet joins the police force.

September 1991 � Vanessa Chamberlain wins the 'Man of the Year' award.

September 1991 � Jean Wetherill moves to Springfield.

October 1991 � Dylan Lewis is injured in an explosion.

October 1991 � Daniel St.John is named as the head of neurology at Cedars Hospital.

November 1991 � Jean Wetherill dies.

December 1991 � Daniel  St.John and Holly Norris are engaged.

December 1991 � Alexandra Spaulding learns she had twins many years ago.

December 17, 1991 � Lillian Raines is diagnosed with breast cancer.

 

 

February 1992 - Eleni Andros and Alan-Michael Spaulding marry.

February 1992 � Nick McHenry and Mindy Lewis get engaged.

February 1992 � Eve Guthrie first appears in Springfield.

February 3, 92 � Vanessa is nearly raped.

February 14, 92 � Holly Norris and Daniel St. John elope.

February 14, 92 � Holly Norris and Daniel St. John are taken hostage.

February 14, 92 � Harley Cooper is kidnapped.

February 14, 92 � Daniel St. John dies.

April 1992 � Jenna Bradshaw first appears in a storyline.

April 1992 � Harley Cooper poses as a personal assistant for Jenna Bradshaw.

April 1992 � Harley Cooper is coerced into stealing a ring for Jenna Bradshaw.

April 1992 � Frank Cooper poses as his sister, Harley Cooper's, boyfriend.

April 1992 � Nick McHenry receives a journalism award.

April 15, 92 � Harley Cooper graduates from the police academy.

April 30, 92 � Gilly Grant and Hampton Speakes get married.

April 30, 92 � David Grant first appears in town.

May 1992 � Hart Jessup leaves town.

May 1992 � Billy Lewis and Nadine Cooper split up.

May 4, 92 � Frank Cooper keeps money that he knows was stolen.

May 4, 92 � Alex Spaulding hires Roger Thorpe to bring Eve Guthrie to town.

May 13, 92 � Blake Marler steals a file on Jenna Bradshaw from Ross Marler's office.

May 13, 92 � Gilly Grant is fired from WSPR so that Blake Thorpe can take over her job.

June 11, 92 � Roger Thorpe breaks into Mindy Lewis' boathouse.

June 25, 92 � Nick McHenry is arrested.

June 26, 92 � Mindy Lewis and Nick McHenry split up.

June 26, 92 � Springfield blackout.

July 1992 � Alexandra Spaulding leaves town.

July 1992 � Vanessa Chamberlain is named president of Spaulding enterprises.

July 1992 � Eleni and Alan-Michael Spaulding divorce.

July 1992 � Blake Thorpe leaves town.

August 21, 92 � Nick McHenry punches Roger Thorpe.

August 24, 92 � There is a car bombing at Towers.

September 1992 � Musette and AC Mallet are caught in an explosion.

September 1992 � AC Mallet looses his hearing and is paralyzed.

September 1992 � Eleni returns to Greece.

September 1992 � Lillian  Raines is cured of breast cancer.

September 1992 � Bridget Reardon becomes pregnant.

September 1992 � Nadine Cooper fakes a pregnancy.

September 1992 � Billy and Nadine get back together.

September 7, 92 � Frank Cooper punches Alan-Michael Spaulding.

September 21, 92 � Vanessa Chamberlain cancels her wedding to Fletcher Reade.

September 30, 92 � Holly Norris humiliates Blake Thorpe at the Lakeland Country Club.

October 1992 � Lillian Raines and Ed Bauer begin to have an affair.

October 1992 � Intimate photos of Blake Thorpe and Ross Marler are made public.

October 1, 92 � Nick McHenry goes to Paris to sear for clues about Musette.

October 6, 92 � Nick McHenry is falsely arrested for stealing Spaulding documents.

November 1992 � AC Mallet regains his hearing.

November 1992 � Ross Marler wins an election and becomes a Senator.

November 1992 � Ross Marler gives up his election seat.

November 11, 92 � Nick McHenry breaks into Spaulding Enterprises.

November 17, 92 � Nick McHenry installs a bug in the Spaulding Mansion.

December 1992 � Harley Cooper is taken hostage.

December 1992 � Pierre dies.

December 1992 � Bridget Reardon pretends to leave town.

December 1992 � Nick Spaulding and Eve Guthrie get involved.

December 1992 � Holly Norris attempts suicide.

December 1992 � Roger Thorpe saves the life of Holly Norris.

December 25, 92 � Jenna Bradshaw finds out that she's not related to anyone in town.

December 25, 92 � AC Mallet begins to walk again.

1993

1/93 � Mindy Lewis returns to town.

1/8/93 � Maureen Bauer dies.

1/8/93 � Harley Cooper and AC Mallet travel to Washington DC and learn that Buzz Cooper did not die in the Vietnam War.

2/5/93 � Buzz Cooper is introduced.

2/8/93 � Eleni Andros learns that Frank Cooper is the father of her baby.

2/15/93 � Bridget Reardon gives birth.

2/25/93 � Roger Thorpe and Jenna Bradshaw take control of Spaulding Enterprises.

3/1/93 � Alan-Michael Spaulding and Nick McHenry take over the Springfield Journal.

4/93 � Hart returns to town.

4/93 � AC Mallet learns that Rex Mancini really is Buzz Cooper.

4/93 � Alan-Michael Spaulding and Eleni Andros divorce.

5/93 � Billy Lewis and Nadine Cooper divorce.

5/12/93 � Frank Cooper and Eleni Andros marry.

5/12/93 � Marina Cooper is born.

5/12/93 � Harley & Frank Cooper learn that Rex Mancini is really their father.

6/93 � Macaulay West appears in town, along with his boathouse.

6/93 � Billy Lewis and Vanessa Chamberlain marry.

7/93 � Eve Guthrie is released from a psychiatric hospital.

7/4/93 � Roger Thorpe proposes to Holly Reade.

7/12/93 � Vinny Morrison is killed.

8/93 � Josh Lewis returns to town.

8/93 � Dylan Lewis burns down his house.

8/10/93 � Roger Thorpe and Jenna Bradshaw marry.

9/93 � Hart Jessup leaves town.

9/93 � Dylan Lewis buys the Jessup Farm.

9/93 � AC Mallet and Harley Cooper marry.

9/93 � Lucy Cooper arrives in town.

10/8/93 � Bess Lowell moves to Springfield.

10/22/93 � Marina Cooper has surgery on her ears.

11/93 � Patrick Cutter appears in Springfield.

11/93 � Eleni Andros Cooper is kidnapped.

11/93 � Tangie Hill moves into Springfield.

12/93 � Nick McHenry and Mindy Lewis become engaged.

12/93 � Roger Thorpe is shot.

12/93 � Holly Reade finds Roger Thorpe alive.

12/93 � Blake Thorpe and Ross Marler become engaged.

January 1994 � Bridget Reardon moves into the boardinghouse and begins running it.

January 1994 � Nick McHenry and Mindy Lewis move into the Spaulding Mansion.

1/1/94 � Billy Lewis begins drinking again.

1/1/94 � There is a huge fire at the lighthouse.

1/26/94 � Roger Thorpe is caught by the police, and names Billy Lewis as the man who shot him.

February 1994 � Billy Lewis confesses to shooting Roger Thorpe.

March 1994 � Bridget Reardon decides to try and gain custody of her son, Peter.

April 1994 � Mindy Lewis and Nick McHenry get married.

May 1994 � Eleni Andros and Frank Cooper separate.

June 1994 � Pauly Hardman returns to jail.

6/6/94 � Bridget Reardon and Vanessa Chamberlain agree to share joint custody of Peter.

6/13/94 � Blake Thorpe and Ross Marler get married.

7/11/94 � Kat Speakes moves to Europe

7/15/94 � Matt Reardon first appears on Guiding Light.

7/15/94 � Nadine and Buzz Cooper appear on the television show, Soul Mates.

7/19/94 � Alan-Michael Spaulding learns that his father has been released from prison.

7/27/94 � Bridget Reardon turns 20.

8/5/94 � Alan-Michael Spaulding is blown up in an explosion.

8/12/94 � Frank and Eleni Cooper renew their vows.

8/12/94 � Dylan Lewis�s truck is hijacked.

8/19/94 � Gabriella Lopez first appears on Guiding Light.

9/23/94 � Ed Bauer and Eve Guthrie announce that they are engaged.

10/2/94 � Guiding Light airs its 12,000th episode.

10/3/94 � Tangie Hill shoots Alan Spaulding.

10/13/94 � Dylan Lewis is blinded in a hit and run car accident.

10/22/94 � Ed Bauer falls off the wagon, after 13 years of being sober.

12/9/94 � Josh Lewis meets Annie Dutton.

12/12/94 � Jenna Bradshaw leaves Springfield.

12/16/94 � David Grant marries Gabriella Lopez.

12/25/94 � Jenna Bradshaw announces the birth of her son, Henry Cooper Bradshaw.

12/31/94 � Dylan Lewis goes to Duluth, Minnesota to attend a school for the blind.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Donna B
Extraneous material needed removing

[NothinButAttitude]

 

[Contessa Donatella]

I was wonder who can explain one thing for me -- and that is :What the heck happened on What the heck happened on this one Feb. 14th?!!!

February 14, 92 ? *Holly Norris and Daniel St. John elope.*
February 14, 92 ? *Holly Norris and Daniel St. John are taken hostage.*
February 14, 92 ? *Harley Cooper is kidnapped.*
February 14, 92 ? *Daniel St. John dies.*
(WTH happened on Feb. 14?)

 

 

•  

•  
• Quote

---

 

"For me, the Guiding Light was always a porch light, just outside the Bauer’s kitchen. Outside, a bad moon may be rising, forces gathering to do you harm, foes behind bushes...Outside, friends may be treacherous, lovers untrue... But if you ran like hell, and made it to the porch, and banged through that screen door, inside there would be warmth and light and the smell of good things cooking. The Guiding Light was about love and home truths and compassion prevailing. For me, anyway, that’s what it was all about."

 

-Nancy Curlee

Former GL Headwriter

April 2009

Edited September 16, 2019 by Donna B
Typing Error

[Contessa Donatella]

I was wondering what in the heck happened on this Feb. 14th, 1992 in or around Springfield?

[Contessa Donatella]

A few weeks ago I was in this active, even congested, Facebook Guiding Light folder & the topic of conversation was Jill Farren Phelps. All of a sudden with no warning "Nancy Wiliams Watt" proceeded to tell us how wonderful Jill was, what a good friend, how much she loved Guiding Light & had contributed to it. I slipped off to look her up & saw that she was a retired  GL Writer, so I turned on my polite mode with her. Most people there did not bother! Since then I've seen Jill Lorie Hurst take up for JFP and Nic Coster take up for JFP. This amazes me.

[chrisml]

I think a lot of performers and writers don't have the same reaction to JFP that most viewers do. I'm reminded of Erika Slezak raving about JFP's tenure on OLTL which surprised me since the women characters became so dumb and desperate under JFP. These actors and writers don't get (or choose not to get) how much JFP ruined so many soaps for viewers. As a viewer, she ruined AW, GL and OLTL for me. 

[Contessa Donatella]

 

Amen, isn't that the truth?! Between what she actually does *to* the shows and the FOJs (Friends of Jill) she can ruin so much. Frankie Frame, Never Forget! Mo = Reardon by birth, Bauer by marriage, Roger's only friend, Michelle's mother by circumstance and tentpole/legacy character, ...

[Contessa Donatella]

Anyone know who wrote "Jammy"? I loved that story. Only the death was terrible. Ellen & Jilly & Swajeski wrote "Otalia" which was very fine storytelling.

 

I figure that Ellen Weston inflicted Sandy & that darned sock puppet on the show. Of course, she did more/bad, too. ::Maryanne Carruthers, Carrie Nye,  having the young adults go tunneling & then fall through a hole, Eden getting Ben to act as a male escort, Ben committing suicide, (I never got over missing Ben.) Conboy hired WRESTLER Marty to play Shane. Conboy overspent his budget. Thank God "ConWest" was only there for a single year's tenure.

So, clue me in, what did Slezak have to say about JFP?

[Paul Raven]

Some GL trivia

In 1966, GL director Gary Delmar was killed Oct 9 in a race car accident at Bridgehampton NY. He was 42 years old.

I guess the Tracy Delmar character of that time was named for him.