Here are my thoughts and a summary of the episodes on disc three of the soapclassics.com 20 classic episode Guiding Light release. The episodes on the disk range over a more than 20 year period. What I find amusing is how three holidays were represented: Christmas, the 4th of July and Election Day. The other two episodes focused on milestones: the 15,000 episode and the 70th anniversary in January 2007.
Episode 1: Christmas 1983 (December 23, 1983)
In Christmas 1983, Beth (Judi Evans) and Phillip (Grant Aleksander) are on the run from their families and are in New York City. The twosome meet Nick and are brought to a safe place for Christmas Eve. They are with an odd assortment of people brought together by Santa like a mother and her three kids whose father drinks at the holidays, and random homeless people. Beth and Phillip tell the O. Henry short story "The Gift of the Magi" which reminds everyone of the power of love at Christmas. Meanwhile in Springfield, Rick (Michael O'Leary) gets help from his father Ed (Peter Simon) to go find his friends. Mindy (Krista Teserau) comes in and acts like she is okay that Rick is going alone to fetch them, but it was all an act. She hides in Rick's car, and pops up in the backseat when Rick was already on the road.
Also at the Bauer house, were Claire (Susan Pratt) and Kelly (John Wesley Shipp). Claire thanks him for the most amazing gift she ever got which was a visit he arranged with her brother. They agreed to have the best time together before Kelly left Springfield for his career. Hillary (Marsha Clark) went to Jim (Michael Woods) lab though at the time, the audience didn't know he was Jim. They were surprised to see each other and kissed. Ed and Maureen (Ellen Dolan) were happy together and had hopes for the future. Sadly we didn't see Bert on this episode as Charita Bauer was already ailing, though the family spoke to her on the phone. Hope also left Springfield, which made this a sad holiday for her father Mike (Don Stewart).
The Reardon Boarding House was another hub for the holiday. Lola (Megan McTavish, yes that Megan McTavish the much maligned soap opera headwriter appears on this episode) is one of Tony's (Greg Beecroft) employees at Tony & Company. He is given a white sweater by his workers. Henry is there to celebrate with his son Quint (Michael Tylo) and pregnant daughter-in-law Nola (Lisa Brown). Bea (Lee Lawson) and Annabelle (Harley Jane Kozak) are also at the Reardons obviously. Lillian (Tina Sloan) shows up in hopes that Beth will call, but feels uncomfortable so she leaves. Floyd (Tom Nielsen) and Katie (Denise Pence) are celebrating with the Reardons too as little Stacy is there.
Reva (Kim Zimmer) stops by to wish Billy (Jordan Clarke), HB (Larry Gates), Josh (Robert Newman) and Vanessa (Maeve Kinkead) a Merry Christmas. Josh brings a Christmas tree. Reva showing up made things awkward and she was thrown out of the apartment. Josh took Reva back to where she was staying. They talked about a Christmas spent together years earlier, and at the end we see Reva still had the class ring he gave her as a present.
The show ends with Mike Bauer singing When Blossoms Flowered Mid the Snow. Thanks goes to GLManny who feels (he is awesome sauce) for searching up that information for me, and check out that GL related blog at http://glmanny.wordpress.com
Episode 2: Independence Day 1987 (July 3, 1987)
Springfield celebrated July 4th for the majority of the week as the Bauer BBQ was held at Johnny's (James Goodwin) hangar. Some characters have hats on their head in honor of Johnny's business, while some are wearing Springfield Journal 50th anniversary t-shirts. The Springfield Journal wasn't really 50, but 1987 was 50 years after GL premiered on radio. I bet if someone had one of these items they could get some decent money in a charity auction as they are 25 years old.
This episode follows right after Alan-Michael (Carl T. Evans) has returned to town. On the previous episode, which is on the Bauer DVD set, A-M appears after parachuting out of a plane. In this episode, there are references to AM's connection to both Phillip and the Bauers, and Josh doesn't seem to be glad another Spaulding is in town.
Alan-Michael is disappointed that his father Alan (Chris Bernau) is not in town, but in Seattle. Phillip, who is dating Chelsea (Kassie DePaiva then Kassie Wesley), share the news of Alan's heart problems. Alan-Michael calls Alan and a fake cable guy enters the room. Alan was supposed to meet AM in NYC, and Hope is still there, but we don't see her. Reva introduced Mindy to AM, and he seems attractive, but she pays him no attention. Chelsea doesn't understand why Phillip is pushing Alan away and Rick tries to explain why. He compares it to how Phillip always has to live in the shadow of Alan, the way he has to with Ed when it comes to medicine. Rick living in Chicago was able to get some space and not be compared to his Dad. Rick and Phillip have a moment after that, and Rick mentions how Phillip doesn't share his feelings with anyone. They both agree that Chelsea is too good for Phillip. Mindy comes over and she is thrilled to see Rick.
This episode does have action, with Alan being nearly strangled by the cable guy, and then forced at gunpoint to the woods. He is made to dig his own grave. The evil man says he is doing what he is doing as he is being paid to kill Phillip. Alan fakes being sick, and then tries to run away. The evil cable guy shoots Alan and sticks him in the grave as rain pours down, get it Seattle is supposed to be rainy. This content on a Bauer BBQ episode was kind of surprising, because many of them are extremely lighthearted.
Johnny and Roxie (Kristi Ferrell) are romantic, and then his younger sister Lacey (Geri Beltzer) walks in interrupting their moment. Fletcher (Jay Hammer) comes in and asks about plane lessons, and Johnny/Roxie decide to take him to the plane. Lacey decides to steal the hot air balloon she likes. Cameron (Ian Ziering best known from the original version of Beverly Hills 90210 and later as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars) joins Lacey in the hot air balloon, and while they know how to take off, they don't know how to get back down to earth. Everyone lets go of balloons in honor of Johnny's dream. They see the hot air balloon and with binoculars Johnny realizes Lacey is in there. Maureen (Ellen Parker) has a huge video camera, and Ed says never a dull moment in Springfield as they shoot footage of the hot air balloon.
Vanessa and Ross (Jerry verDorn) are dating during this episode, as Billy is living in Venezeula. They end up talking about their relationship years before Springfield and how they made love in the bushes. Vanessa and Ross decide to do that again, and we see them after the fact with leaves in their hair as evidence. Phillip, who has a bad sense of timing, comes up to his uncle and tells him how he wants his last name to be changed from Spaulding to Marler.
Mindy and HB are together and she's upset that Rusty (Terrell Anthony) left for the BBQ, though he left a note on the mantle. Mindy decides she'd rather work than go to the party. There is an 80s computer, which beeps rather annoyingly. HB tells Mindy that she should go with him. Reva and Josh interact with Rusty at the party. Reva starts taking photos, then Mindy gets the camera and finally Dinah (Paige Turco) has that duty.
Josh talks about the construction company, which eventually becomes Lewis Construction. Ed tells Josh how his friend Kaz Kowolski (Phillip Sterling) who owns the construction company needs a heart donation. At the party, Josh and Reva ask Will (Joe Breen) to be Marah's godfather, and Roxie is the godmother. HB overhears Josh talk about how HB doesn't listen to his ideas for Lewis Oil, which is why he is going out on his own. Will has to leave to go back to the hospital. Reva and Josh go back to Revabend, but Josh leaves to see Kaz. Sarah had been babysitting Marah, while they were at the BBQ. They talk about Josh not knowing about Marah's paternity issues, as he doesn't know the baby's paternity is in doubt. At the hospital, Josh tells Kaz about the oil company who wanted to clear land, so the construction company can get the lumber. Kaz tells Josh he's hired, but Josh believes that Kaz will get a donor heart. We see Reva at home rocking Marah in her rocking chair. Will is in front of an amber screen computer and is scared by Josh. Will has up Marah's records. Will says according to the records there is no way Josh could be Marah's father.
Early in the episode, Fletcher comes in with anniversary issues of Springfield Journal. There are references to some older stories, like Quint and Nola and the Lake Elizabeth plot. HB brushes Henry (William Roerick) off, but Henry offers to go get some lemonade to cheer HB up, though you could tell HB wanted something stronger than lemonade. Little Billy and Little Michelle are both seen. Lillian is on, but it is very blink and you miss her.
Songs in this episode included Fascinated, which was blocked out in part, but was very popular in the 80s, Sailing by Christopher Cross (during the scene with Rick and Phillip), and Up Where We Belong played while Johnny and Roxie were being romantic.
The episode end with tribute clips of Charita Bauer as former GL performer Ed Bryce, who played Bill Bauer and is also the real life father to As the World Turns' Scott Bryce, who originated the role of Craig Montgomery. During the clips, the song "Don't Stop Dreaming" is played.
Episode 3: Election Day 1992 (November 3, 1992)
Ross Marler's run for the United States Senate was one of the big stories on Guiding Light in 1992. This episode, which was taped over two days, focuses on Ross's Election Day Nightmare as the character fell asleep while stuck in traffic on Election Day. The credits were altered and an instrumental version of "Happy Days are Here Again" played during the opening and closing of the show. While this was a stand-alone episode, it isn't the most accessible if one doesn't know the history of these characters.
Fletcher as Ross's campaign manager had to deal with Ross's stress on the big day. Ross was the virtual winner, until the scandalous news that he was sleeping with Blake Thorpe (Liz Keifer) came to light. This dream was Ross dealing with his feelings about his career and Blake. The characters are exaggerated in this episode, but are not out of character. He was told in the dream, that he only needed five votes to win, and they go around town looking for people to vote for him.
Somehow Ross is able to convince his former girlfriends Vanessa, Nadine (Jean Carol) and Holly (Maureen Garrett) to vote for him. He finds Vanessa and Nadine together in the Country Club pool wearing no clothes, and later he comes upon Holly in a bathtub after he expects Blake. We also see Blake in the hot tub at the Bauers, with Alan-Michael (Rick Hearst) naked behind her. There is even a double take which is kind of hilarious.
Water is a big theme in this episode as is the bit of music that plays by Stravinsky each time Blake appears. To add to the oddness, late in the episode, reporters wearing t-shirts which had the photograph Holly released to the tabloids of Blake and Ross on his bed wearing towels. I wonder whatever happened to all those shirts.
Before all of the women vote for Ross, Ed offers to allow the women to get clothing (from an unseen Maureen's closet.) The women along with Michelle (Rachel Miner) choose gold dresses. They all arrive at Ross's party at the Towers Club. Nadine tells Billy that she gave birth to their baby in the back of Ross's limo, and planned to name the child after Ross. Billy was upset over the name, but was even more disgusted when he found out Nadine gave birth to a cat. In another segment, Ross has to deal with multiple Rogers as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" music played. Jenna (Fiona Hutchison) who is seeing Roger (Michael Zaslow), Hamp (Vince Williams) who owns the Towers Club, Gilly (Amelia Marshall) who is a reporter and Leo Flynn (Robert Lupone) his competitor for the Senate seat are all in this episode.
The dream ends as Ross admits that he's the fraud and he couldn't vote for himself. Blake listens as Ross finally admits to her that he loves her after all. Once he wakes up, Ross sees a homeless lady cleaning his car, who is played by Beaulah Garrick (who had been Mrs. Renfield during the Quint/Nola story in the 1980s.) She represents his mother and she says that it should be about people and not politics.
Episode 4: 15,000 Episode (September 7, 2006)
This episode had mixed reviews back when it aired in 2006. The characters that appear in this episode are against type.
Billy and Reva are at the lighthouse, as Reva is sick and is talking about how life will be like when she's gone. A tour guide shows up who mentions the history of the lighthouse and its 15,000 candles representing 15,000 residents of Springfield. Reva is then left alone and passes out, in the lighthouse. (I don't like the idea that the lighthouse is now a tourist attraction.)
Reva wakes up and sees Buzz (Justin Deas) who is now like Alan, except his company is named Cooper Enterprises and he goes by his real name and not Buzz. Company is now being run by the Spauldings. Alan (Ron Raines) is in charge, with Alex (Marj Dusay) being a waitress. Alan-Michael (Michael Dempsey) is a cop, and Olivia (Crystal Chappell) is a sister.
At the mansion, which is now overrun by Coopers, Gus (Ricky Paull Goldin) is the butler, Marina (Mandy Bruno) is like Lizzie with a dog. Ava (Michelle Ray Smith) and Coop (John Driscoll) are there as well. Frank (Frank Dicopolous) is an capitalist like his father. Harley (Beth Ehlers) thinks that Reva ants money from them since she fell off the lighthouse. Reva leaves to go to Cedars.
Reva meets Lizzie (Marcy Rylan) at Cedars, and she's a lot like Lillian. Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) is a doctor, and Lizzie and Jon are a couple. The two of them are glad to be having a baby together. Reva raised Jonathan, and that's how he is so successful. Reva sees Jonathan run into Tammy (Stephanie Gatschet), who rides a motorcycle and owns a bar. They are seeing each other behind Lizzie's back. At Tammy's bar, Remy (Lawrence St. Victor) is a bouncer, Rick is a homeless bum, and Josh is a drunk. Josh mentions how Reva is the moral compass of town, and Josh has a past like Reva as he was married to both Roxie and Sarah to get back at Reva. Though the truth is he always wanted her, Cassie (Nicole Forester) leads Josh away, and Reva sees Jeffrey (Brad Cole).
Reva meets Dinah (Gina Tognoni) and Billy who are both protesting the lighthouse being demolished. The Coopers are there being mean to the people who want to see the lighthouse be saved. (There is a whole thing with Dinah talking about saving the lobsters, which just reminded me of lobster love on Friends, but I digress.) Reva tells Billy about her not being in the right time, and Billy advises her to go back to the lighthouse. He also shares that Josh owns the lighthouse and wants to sell it. Josh wants to use the money he'd make to leave town with Cassie. Josh uses the words that she isn't enough for him, which is something Reva said to him in a regular episode. That whole sequence upset many Josh and Reva fans, when it aired. Reva goes back to see Billy and tells him what happened with Josh. Dinah, Jeffrey, Lizzie and Jonathan chain themselves to the lighthouse. Josh comes and says he didn't sell the lighthouse as his pen ran out of ink. Everyone celebrates, Josh and Reva nearly kiss, and then Reva wakes up, with Josh asking if she is ill.
Episode 5: 70th Anniversary (January 25, 2007)
For the majority of this episode, people aren't playing their regular Springfield roles, but radio parts. For cast members already mentioned earlier in this entry I will use character names to ease confusion.
The show begins with Jonathan sobbing over Tammy who is dead with Cassie crying in the background. Then it turns into "The Guiding Light" a radio show that premiered in 1937. Reverend Rutledge (Josh), Ellis Smith (Jeffrey), a piano player (Alex) and an announcer (Alan) are there. Then it goes to actors speaking with each other. Mary (Ava) lets Ned (Coop) she screwed up her lines the day before during the broadcast. The role of Irna Phillips the creator of TGL is played by Beth Ehlers(Harley), and she gets in the face of the people working at the show. Irna's faithful secretary is Rose (Blake) is there taking dictation. A director (Frank) is helping (Beth and Rick and later Lillian) do a commercial, while (Remy) is a sound effects guy. Mallet plays Jack (no idea who Jack is supposed to be, someone who works for the network or P&G, I'm uncertain). (Gus) comes in to bring some coffee. Mel (Yvonna Wright), Marina, and Daisy (Bonnie Dennison) are radio listeners.
The introduction of the Bauers in 1948 is mentioned. Papa Bauer (Buzz, though originally played by Theo Goetz), Bill (Billy Lewis), Meta (Olivia, though the character was best known as played by Ellen Demming) and Bill's wife Bert (Reva, though Charita Bauer is Bert.) According to Soap Opera Weekly, GL asked Ellen Parker to come back for one day to play Bert, but didn't agree to it. Kim Zimmer worked with Charita briefly. There is mention of the story in which Ted (Alan-Michael) was shot by Meta due to the death of Chuck. Irna decided to leave the verdict up to viewers' votes. Jack calls with the news the audience saw Meta as innocent, and the ratings improved dramatically. Irna fights to move TGL to television. The director lets the radio actors know the show is moving to television, which happened in June 1952. There is no budget, they'll have to wear their own clothes and style their own hair. In those days, when TGL was on radio and television, they had to perform each episode twice as each was done live. Gil Rogers (Hawk, plays a cameraman). Kathy (Dinah), Bert and Meta have a scene. Then we see Jack tell Irna over the phone that TGL will only be on television soon. Irna says she may leave the program, but with good stories. The story takes a dark turn as Robin (Lizzie) loses her mother Kathy in a car accident. A lot of fans are angry by this turn of events, and Rose is annoyed at her boss. Irna dictates a letter about how people have to deal with both good and bad things, as that's what life is all about.
The history lesson ends and we Jonathan and Tammy again with a voiceover by Josh, who was the reverend in the history portion. The lamp, which was the original Guiding Light was shared, and how even though Luigi who gave him the lamp is gone, it reminds him of others who are no longer living, but still with him. There is references to mourning, an how the spirit remains with us, reiterating the whole theme of "There is a Destiny that makes us brothers…" poem that began each episode of TGL.
While I enjoyed this episode when it originally aired, and appreciated some of the sentiments shared within it, I didn't agree with all of it. While I do believe that people live on though memories and those who love them, I felt the same way about Guiding Light. For me oddly enough, the story about the lamp i equated to all the people and things that have come and gone on the program (and not just those we lost in death). While it is true Irna Phillips wrote that letter so many years ago (1958 to be exact), I think if any soap opera did something on that nature today I'd be even more livid than by a show killing off a beloved character. The reaction would be insane, and a part of me wondering if that wasn't included as a "note" to the audience in regards to other controversial decisions made in recent years, which included the death of Tammy.
So that's my summary of disc three of the 20 episode set. Of all the discs, this one was the least united by theme, but it featured a lot of different performers who were on Guiding Light and good for holiday viewing.
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