Guiding Light
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- This article is about the soap opera; "Guiding Light" is also a track from Television's 1977 release Marquee Moon.
| Network | CBS |
| Creator | Irna Phillips |
| Executive Producer | Ellen Wheeler |
| Head Writer | David Kreizman |
| Distributor | Procter & Gamble Productions |
| Premiere Date | January 25, 1937 on NBC (radio) June 30, 1952 on CBS (television) |
| Runtime | 60 minutes (15 minutes from 1952 to 1968) (30 minutes from 1968 to 1977) |
| Alternate Titles | Leiðarljós (Iceland) Die Springfield Story (Germany) Sentieri (Italy) |
| IMDb Page | |
Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975) is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. The 15,000th televised episode of Guiding Light will air in the spring of 2006. The program began as an NBC radio serial on January 25, 1937 before moving to CBS on June 30, 1952, as a televised serial.
History, plot development and cast
Due to the 6-decade run of Guiding Light as well as the complexity of the storylines, the show's history has been split up into separate entries.
The 1930s and 1940s
The series was created by Irna Phillips, who based it on personal experiences. After giving birth to a still-born baby at age 19, she found spiritual comfort listening to sermons by a preacher of a church centered on the brotherhood of man. It was these sermons that formed the nucleus of the creation of The Guiding Light, which began as a radio show.
The 1950s
In 1952, The Guiding Light began airing on CBS television. Episodes were 15 minutes long.
After Irna Phillips moved to As the World Turns in 1958, her protege Agnes Nixon became headwriter of The Guiding Light.
With the transition to television the main characters became the Bauers, a lower-middle class German immigrant family.
The 1960s
Agnes Nixon left the show in 1966. In 1967 the show was first broadcast in color. A year later, the show expanded from 15 to 30 minutes.
The 1960s introduced African-American characters. The main focus of the show slowly moved to Bill and Bert's children.
The 1970s
Feeling pressure from newer, more youth-oriented soaps such as The Young and the Restless, Procter & Gamble hired headwriters Bridget Dobson and Jerome Dobson in 1975. In the fall of 1975, the name was changed in show's opening and closing visuals from The Guiding Light to Guiding Light. In November 1977, the show expanded to a full hour.
The show in the 1970s focused on the Bauers and the Spauldings. Several notable characters were introduced, including Rita Stapleton, a "vixen" brought in to add complexity to the plotline.
The 1980s
In 1980, the Dobsons were moved to ATWT, and replaced by Douglas Marland. In May 1980, Guiding Light won it's first Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Achievement in a Daytime Drama. Pam Long became head writer in 1984.
An ever more complicated storyline focused on the Bauers, the Spauldings, the Reardons and the Raines. In 1984, Long refocused the show around Rick Bauer, Phillip Spaulding, Mindy Lewis and Beth Raines. The storyline of the "Four Muskateers" proved so popular that Guiding Light managed to dethrone then-powerhouse General Hospital from the top ratings spot.
The 1990s
The realism of the early 1990s was in stark contrast to the mid-1980s, when the show had become "campy." The Bauers, Spauldings, Lewises, and the Coopers had been established as core families, and most major plot developments circled around them.
The 2000s
There were several headwriter changes in the early half of the 2000's. Much-acclaimed writer Claire Labine took over as headwriter in 2000, but she lasted barely a year. She was replaced briefly by Lucky Gold. Millee Taggart took the writing reins in 2002, and Taggart's run had some critical acclaim, breaking away from the organized crime and royalty which had dominated Guiding Light over the past few years. Taggart tried to focus on more traditional storylines.
Not all of Taggart's stories were a hit; she also wrote a sequence in which Marah (Lindsey McKeon), reacting to a rape attempt from boyfriend Tony Santos, stripped to her underwear and taunted him to force himself on her.
Awards
Daytime Emmy Awards
Show
- 1980 Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
- 1981 Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series
- 1982 Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
- 1982 Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series
- 1982 Oustanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts (Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork)
- 1983 Oustanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts (Lighting Direction)
- 1984 Outstanding Achievement in Design Excellence for a Daytime Drama Series
- 1985 Oustanding Direction for a Drama Series
- 1985 Outstanding Achievement by a Drama Series Design Team
- 1986 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
- 1986 Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series
- 1986 Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series
- 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
- 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series
- 1990 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
- 1991 Outstanding Original Song: "Love Like This"
- 1991 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
- 1992 Outstanding Original Song: "I Knew That I'd Fall"
- 1992 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
- 1992 Outsanding Achievement in Graphics and Title Design
- 1993 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
- 1993 Outstanding Achievement in Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama Series
- 1994 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team
- 1994 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
- 1995 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
- 1995 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
- 1996 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
- 1996 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
- 1996 Outstanding Live and Direct-to-Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series
- 1996 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
- 1998 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
- 1998 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
- 1998 Outstanding Original Song: "Hold Me"
Individuals
- 1984 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Judi Evans Luciano (Beth Raines)
- 1985 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kim Zimmer (Reva Shayne)
- 1985 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Larry Gates (H.B. Lewis)
- 1987 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kim Zimmer (Reva Shayne)
- 1990 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kim Zimmer (Reva Shayne)
- 1991 Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Rick Hearst (Alan-Michael Spaulding)
- 1992 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa Chamberlain)
- 1993 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Parker (Maureen Reardon)
- 1993 Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Monti Sharp (David Grant)
- 1994 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe)
- 1994 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Justin Deas (Buzz Cooper)
- 1994 Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series: Melissa Hayden (Bridget Reardon)
- 1995 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Justin Deas (Buzz Cooper)
- 1995 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jerry verDorn (Ross Marler)
- 1996 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jerry verDorn (Ross Marler)
- 1996 Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Kevin Mambo (Marcus Williams)
- 1997 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Justin Deas (Buzz Cooper)
- 1997 Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Kevin Mambo (Marcus Williams)
- 1998 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Cynthia Watros (Annie Dutton)
- 2002 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Crystal Chappell (Olivia Spencer)
- 2003 Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Jordi Vilasuso (Tony Santos)
- 1988 Outstanding Lead Actress: Kim Zimmer (Reva)
- 1990 Outstanding Female Newcomer: Jean Carol (Nadine)
- 1991 Outstanding Supporting Actor: Jordan Clarke (Billy)
- 1991 Outstanding Female Newcomer: Kimberley Simms (Mindy)
- 1992 Outstanding Villain: Michael Zaslow (Roger)
- 1993 Outstanding Male Newcomer: Monti Sharp (David)
- 1993 Hottest Male Star: Mark Derwin (Mallet)
- 1994 Outstanding Supporting Actor: Justin Deas (Buzz)
- 1994 Outstanding Younger Leading Actress: Melissa Hayden (Bridget)
- 1998 Favorite New Couple: Phillip and Harley (Grant Aleksander and Beth Ehlers)
- 1998 Favorite New Character: Cassie (Laura Wright)
- 2000 Outstanding Lead Actress: Kim Zimmer (Reva)
Trivia
- Arthur Peterson, Jr., who played Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge from 1937 to 1946 on radio, would later play the memorable character of the Major on the ABC comedy show spoof of soap operas, Soap. Caroline McWilliams who would later play Janet Mason Norris from 1969 to 1975 also was on Soap playing Burt Campbell's secretary, Sally (who Burt thought he had an affair with; in reality he didn't), and later would appear on the Soap spinoff, Benson for several seasons.
- Three times, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, NBC nearly canceled the radio version of The Guiding Light, but irate fans kept writing en masse, and NBC brought back the show. The final and fourth time NBC cancelled the show, CBS radio revived the show less than a year later.
- This is actually the only show to be on all three major broadcasting networks. On radio, The Guiding Light appeared on NBC Red and Blue networks—the latter of which became ABC—and also on CBS since 1947.
- In real life, Theo Goetz, the actor who played Papa Bauer from 1949 to 1972, had escaped Nazi occupation in Austria.
- Bert Bauer's first son, Mike, was named after actress Charita Bauer's real life son, Michael.
- Barbara Berjer who played Barbara Norris Thorpe and Millette Alexander who played Dr. Sara McIntyre, had worked together on the short-lived soap opera, From These Roots. Alexander played a gun moll and Berjer played an alcoholic actress.
- Sandra Smith who played Julie Conrad Bauer, from 1962 to 1965 is the only performer besides William Shatner to have played Captain James T. Kirk on the original and later motion pictures of the Star Trek series. On the final episode of Star Trek, Turnabout Intruder, Smith played a character named Dr. Janice Lester, who invented a device where Lester's being was able to inhabit Kirk's body, and in exchange Kirk's being was transferred into Lester's body.
- Harley Venton, who played Derek Colby from 1979 to 1982, was the only actor besides Bruce Willis to get a screen test to play David Addison on Moonlighting.
GL Time Slots
Guiding Light is currently airing at 3:00 PM ET/PT 2:00 PM CT; however, some local affiliates air it at 10:00 ET/9:00 CT (example: WCBS-TV had aired GL at 10:00 AM on a day-behind basis until 2005). Now CBS affiliates get the show on a same day feed in the morning, no longer a day behind.
Below is the list of stations that air it at 10:00 AM ET/9:00 AM CT :
- WCBS-TV-New York City
- WBZ-TV-Boston, Massachusetts
- KYW-TV-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (This station has been airing GL on a same day basis at 10 am since 2004)
- WBBM-TV-Chicago, Illinois
- WKMG-TV-Orlando, Florida
- WFOR-TV-Miami, Florida
- WWJ-TV-Detroit, Michigan
- WRGB-TV-Albany, New York
- WYOU-TV-Scranton, Pennsylvania
Head writers and executive producers
See also
External links
- 1950s TV shows in the United States
- 1960s TV shows in the United States
- 1970s TV shows in the United States
- 1980s TV shows in the United States
- 1990s TV shows in the United States
- 2000s TV shows in the United States
- CBS network shows
- Guiding Light
- Procter & Gamble
- Soap operas
- United States radio programs
- World record holders