Here are my thoughts and a summary on Soapclassics.com release of five episodes focusing on the character of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer). I’m only writing about the first three episodes of the release. Within my text, there will be links to summaries to the other two episodes for those who did not buy the DVD.
Episode One: November 28, 1983
In this episode, Reva is in Tulsa with her masseur and Alan (Chris Bernau) comes to see her. They talk terms of an arrangement for Reva to destroy the recent engagement between Billy (Jordan Clarke) and Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead). The episode actually began with a celebratory Billy and Vanessa in bed during post coital bliss. The bed looked painfully small, and blankets were messy along with her hair. Basically Alan didn’t want Billy anywhere near the Chamberlain block of Spaulding stock, and destroying that relationship would keep the company safe. Beth (Judi Evans) was sitting alone in the Student Union at Springfield U. Her professor Annabelle (Harley Jane Kozak) came up to her about problems with her work. Annabelle didn’t understand why Beth would do a report on Sylvia Plath instead of the concept of immortality in Emily Dickinson’s poetry, which was the assigned topic. (How they went into detail about the assignment made me laugh.) Annabelle told Beth that if she needed any help that her door was also open. Meanwhile, Phillip (Grant Aleksander) was stuck in the office of a judge. He was in trouble with the law for harassing Beth and her family. Thankfully, Phillip would just have to deal with a warning if he promised to stay away from her, but the first place he went after leaving the judge’s chambers was the student union. Mindy (Krista Tesreau) was there and Phillip caught her up with what happened. Rick (Michael O’Leary) was with Beth and they were talking calmly, though he did not understand why Beth was pushing everyone away. The Galahads led by Lujack (Vincent Irizarry) came into the room and started to harass Beth. She flipped seeing Bradley’s face (her stepfather that raped her) instead of Lujack’s, while Rick and Phillip got involved with fisticuffs.
The other main story was at the apartment nurses Hillary (Marsha Clark) and Lesley Ann (Carolyn Anne Clarke) shared. Lesley Ann had gotten so upset over Warren (Warren Burton) breaking up with her, that she downed some pills. Floyd (Tom Nielsen) was in love with her, but she did not reciprocate his feelings. Katie (Denise Pence) and Kelly (John Wesley Shipp) also were there trying to help Leslie Ann due to their medical training. Lesley Ann was angry that she was saved, which angered Kelly. All of them stayed up all night helping her, instead of bringing her to the hospital, as they didn’t want to destroy her career as a nurse. When Kelly left the apartment, he slammed the door, and the door didn’t behave as it came right open again. (This oops made me squeal with laughter.) Katie left the apartment and wasn’t shown again in this episode like Kelly. Floyd went to Warren, the hospital administrator, and told him what his behavior did to Lesley Ann. At first, Warren didn’t want to read the letter, but after hearing Floyd’s words he did. Warren rushed out of his office to be with Lesley Ann. Hillary tried to convince Lesley Ann that she will be okay without Warren and that she needs help from a psychiatrist. Warren came to the door and told Lesley Ann that he wanted her to come to his place to stay, as he was so touched over how much she loves him. Lesley Ann was thrilled, but Hillary was horrified. Lesley Ann and Warren left and the door stayed closed behind them. Then Hillary threw something at the door and it promptly popped open again. (So it looked like the crew fixed the door enough for it to close, but it couldn’t manage to stay that way, and I laughed as the episode ended. Poor crew person who was in charge of making sure the door work.)
While this episode was Reva’s introduction, Reva wasn’t shown for most of the episode. She was on with Alan, they went out together (which we didn’t see), and then they were back in her suite sealing the deal with champagne that Alan provided. What was funny to me was how Reva kissed him, and Alan was not interested at all. If it hadn’t been Kim Zimmer’s first episode I doubt this would have been included in this set. It wasn’t an outstanding episode that gave a lot of insight into the character and had a lot about others in Springfield.
Episode Two: July 31, 1984
Warning: I have not watched the previous episode that aired on the larger Guiding Light collection. This is based upon my thoughts just on the July 31, 1984 program.
This episode finishes up Reva’s dive in the fountain with Josh (Robert Newman) looking on in his wheelchair. H.B. (Larry Gates) puts a stop to it before she strips down to nothing. Almost everyone was gone from the party by this time, so at least Reva did not humiliate herself in front of everyone. There were some scenes in this episode that had nothing to do with Reva’s breakdown or even the party specifically. Beth and Alex (Beverlee McKinsey) were together waiting for news on Lujack who had gone missing. Darcy (Robin V. Johnson) went out to see her mother, while the cops raided the Galahads place looking for Lujack. After Darcy left, the cops visited her mother too, and she protected her daughter. Warren showed up about the Spaulding Foundation and going to DC, but Alex wanted to stay for Brandon’s sake. Claire (Susan Pratt) and Fletcher (Jay Hammer) had left the party to spy on Susan Piper (Carrie Nye). They broke into her realty office, and she was wearing a sparkly red dress, while he was in a white tuxedo. This was not the clothing one should use when breaking and entering. They were nearly caught, but escaped unharmed. Fletcher took Claire home and out for something to eat off camera, and then returned to the party. Susan was waiting for Fletcher and they left together.
Billy and Trish (Rebecca Hollen) were upset over what Reva did and sided with their brother Josh. It was frustrating how Reva ruined Billy and Vanessa’s party. Phillip spoke with Billy about what happened and gave apologies for his behavior. Mindy also didn’t have a great time at the party, as Rick got forceful with her. He pushed her into the fountain and told her how she didn’t need the mask of her make up and all of that. Ross stayed behind with Trish and Vanessa, and Vanessa made a comment about how only family was still there. Of course, this designation of family surprised Ross (Jerry verDorn) and gave him the courage to do something that ultimately backfired especially after he was buoyed by a conversation he had with Phillip. Basically Phillip said that both he and Ross have issues with letting people in and getting close to them. If someone watching this didn’t realize they were related, it would make no sense, as there was no mention of the blood tie. This particular scene had me flummoxed, as it was so insightful and unexpected. Just having Phillip comparing his behavior to something Ross does, seldom happened in later years. This issue was one that Ross carried with him into the 90s and was touched upon in dialogue, but I digress. After Phillip left, Ross asked Trish to go home with him. He wanted to be with her, and she seemed stunned. He wanted to comfort her after the night she had, but couldn’t verbalize it in such a way to make it sound like she wouldn’t be abandoning her brothers. Ross seemed crestfallen over Trish choosing to stay with them. She kissed him, but he did not respond.
The main story in this episode though was H.B. and Reva dealing with what happened at the party. H.B. talked about the cruel joke of growing older and how the body doesn’t look 25 anymore, but the heart didn’t feel that way. Larry Gates is outstanding during this material, and it is understandable why he won a Daytime Emmy for his work that year. H.B. admits that if time was on their side, he could have everything with Reva including a family. Reva cares for him, doesn’t see him as an old man, but still has other feelings, which is a reference to Josh. The situation is poignant albeit bittersweet. H.B. retires to his bedroom so Reva can be alone to sleep. She leaves her room to join him for the night.
The only disappointing thing about this episode was that it was over so quickly. I wish there would have been closing credits so we could have seen who wrote this episode, as it was that well done.
Episode Three: July 23, 1990
This is the episode where Reva goes over the bridge in Florida. This episode is important due to it being Reva’s last episode because of the accident, but there is not much time spent on Reva's material.
Reva is with Dylan (Morgan Englund) and Sam (Suzy Cote), who are dating. She is paranoid, hallucinating and believes they are being followed. She’s driving this red car, with Dylan in the front and Sam in the back. Eventually Reva pulls over and tells Dylan to get out, but Sam is still in the car. Josh realizes something is wrong, when Reva, Sam and Dylan never show up at the beach. He is waiting for them with Harley (Beth Ehlers), baby Shayne and young Marah (Ashley Peldon). What is funny is there is a scene in which Josh goes swimming and we get to see Mr. Newman in tight black swimwear. Josh goes to find Reva, Sam and Dylan, and takes the white Jeep to go after them. He finds Dylan at the side of the road, and they go. Dylan tells Josh that Reva bought a red dress, and hopes that Sam got out of the car. They see Reva go over broken bridge.
In Costa Verde, Alan-Michael with an earring in his left ear (Rick Hearst) and Blake (Sherry Stringfield) are reunited. This is very early in Rick’s run as AM, and already he has to do a shirtless scene. AM has been tortured and held hostage. His wrists are bloody he has a bruise on the top of his forehead, and a lot of stubble. When Blake gets him alone, she bathes him and shaves his face. They make love, and considering it is early days of them working together they have a lot of chemistry. What AM doesn’t know is that Blake is faking her pregnancy. Holly (Maureen Garrett) and Roger (Michael Zaslow) know what Blake is up to, but keep the secret for their daughter’s sake. Gary (William Bell Sullivan) also knows, and Roger blames him for the kidnapping. Roger wants to kill Gary, but cannot as he has proof that Blake is lying. The scenes in which Roger threatens Gary are very entertaining as Roger is livid that Gary would have held Blake hostage. He’s attacking and wants Gary to never come back to Springfield, though he does, but you don’t know that at the end of this episode.
In Springfield, Phillip is thrilled hearing that his brother Alan-Michael has been rescued. His captivity was kept from most of the town as not to worry them. Phillip paid the ransom, but couldn’t go to Costa Verde due to Neil’s murder. Phillip and Beth (Beth Chamberlin) are together and happy. They are in robes, which do not match, talk about sex (and well, sex, sex, sex, which is a word that Beth is uncomfortable saying.) Though they do have it happily.
Bruce Barry directed the remote material in Florida, while the scenes on set were done by Scott McKinsey. Pam Long was the head writer at this point. This was the only episode of the first three that had full closing credits. The opening credits had the variation that had Holly, Roger etc.
Episodes Four & Five: November 17, 2004 & April 12, 2006
Here is a link to what tvmegasite.net had posted about this episode. It focused upon Reva’s son Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) and how he was like Reva as he had his own moment in the fountain at the Lakeland Country Club. This summary is detailed and includes some screen captures. Tammy (Stephanie Gatschet) and Sandy (Scott Bailey) are also in this episode as are Dinah (Gina Tognoni), Cassie (Laura Wright), Billy, Bill (Daniel Cosgrove), Olivia (Crystal Chappell) and Lizzie (Crystal Hunt). Unfortunately their April 12, 2006 summary is not working, though they have a short version that is. In that one, Josh and Reva sign divorce papers, and then decide not to break up at the lighthouse. Sadly this was a last hurrah episode as soon after Josh moved on with Reva’s sister Cassie (Nicole Forester). This was an inside the light episode, so only that story was focused on that Wednesday. For a short summary visit soapcentral.com. If you want to read the dialogue for either episode, a transcript of the closed captioning is available at tvmegasite.net.
So there you have it, my summaries and thoughts on various old Guiding Light episodes. Hopefully in the coming weeks, I’ll write about the other DVDs that came from the soapclassics.com GL collection.
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