The Light and the Dark

Where was your favorite GL character when the lights went out in Springfield in 1992? In the dark, of course!

The Springfield Blackout is one of the most famous events in the history of GUIDING LIGHT. With the entire city plunged into darkness, partly as a result of Bridget Reardon's irresponsible consumption of electricity, GL was able to kick all of its already potent stories into high gear by placing all the players into perilous (or at the very least, stressful) situations. The blackout was the event that saw consumations (one physical and one emotional) of Blake & Ross and Ed & Lillian's forbidden attractions. It was the night that Nick finally learned that Alexandra was his mother and got left at the altar (sort of) by Mindy. It was a week of episodes that featured great fistfuls of meaty interactions between a wide array of GL characters, including new combinations, creating several bonds that persisted for years.

This event is a perfect time capsule of the GUIDING LIGHT of this period and features (arguably) GL's best ever acting ensemble and as well some beautiful, grown up writing. It reveals a soap at the very top of its game, creating story that affects Springfield even today. The blackout is one of the most famous and respected "big events" in the history of daytime and this clipset shows exactly why: brilliantly crafted, interweaving story, top notch acting from top to bottom, and all the heart, soul, warmth, wit, and intelligence that soap opera should have.

And so, enjoy The Light and the Dark--

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See you back here on October 1 when GLMP presents the 3rd Quarterly Report of 2007, covering the best of the show for July, August, and September of this year!

Happy watching,

---ivnkplng

The Homecoming

In previous blog entries, I've talked about the history, evolution, and reception of the Rita Bauer character. This endlessly fascinating creation was brought to life by the limitlessly talented Lenore Kasdorf and GLMP followers have had the opportunity to observe her in a variety of situations. The Homecoming provides yet another dimension to this character as we experience some of Rita's less sympathetic aspects.

Taken from the very end of 1979, we get a good look at Rita's claws and deeper flaws as she returns to town pregnant with what she (and others) are fairly certain is Greg Fairbanks' child. Rita's exchanges with Greg, Sara, Bert, and even Ed are indicative of the painting of the character as someone who is absolutely not a "heroine." She is complicated, conflicted, deeply flawed, and sometimes unpleasant.

This clipset includes one of the legendary clashes between Rita and Barbara (played by the always spot on Barbara Berjer) and it's easy to see why these encounters have attained the reputation for for electricity and entertainment value that they still possess. Kasdorf and Berjer have such command of their characters and play so well together. The history and chemistry crackling between them is supported by the rock solid writing of Douglas Marland, cementing my view of this period as the best in GUIDING LIGHT's 70 year history.

The other major event in this set is the return of Roger Thorpe (the other "homecomer"), presumed dead after being shot by Holly. There is a palpable tension as Ed begins to realize the significance of the strange events going on at Christina's school and Alan begins to anticipate the consequences of his aid to Roger. Michael Zaslow is, of course, a coiled spring, making even the small Roger vignettes in this set into riveting viewing.

Two other interesting realizations came to me while putting this set up:

1) I now think of Mart Hulswit as "Ed." He hasn't replaced Peter Simon in my mind as the definitive Ed, but I now instantly think of the character when I see him just as surely as if I'd been a daily viewer during this period.

2) I can't, for the life of me, imagine that anyone took the Peter Chapman character (or his lifeless relationship with Holly) seriously. Everything about this character is so unbelievably dull and it's actually a bit of a surprise that Marland didn't think to create someone who was a more viable alternative to Roger and Ed.

Just to pinpoint the events of this set on the GL timeline, The Homecoming occurs three months after the events of Satisfaction and two months before Enough Is Enough.

And so, enjoy The Homecoming--

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Lastly, I've created a new mvid spotlighting the middle four months of 2007. I Want It All features a song by the band Kosheen and covers many of the major events of May, June, July, and August

I Want It All