Requiem for a Daytime Drama, Part One
By J Bernard Jones on September 15, 2009
The first in a highly personal, non-objective series highlighting various aspects of the last episodes of Guiding Light, which will end its 72 year run on September 18th.
These final weeks of Guiding Light have been pure torture to watch. I don't mean "the new production model" (a phrase I never hope to hear again in my lifetime) or Bonnie Dennison's (Daisy) futile attempts to remember her lines. No, what has been extraordinarily difficult for me as a viewer — who vividly remembers when Roger (Michael Zaslow) kidnapped Holly (Maureen Garrett) in the Caribbean and Ed (then Mart Hulswit) threw him off a cliff — is watching the series' stories come to their inevitable conclusions.
Resolutions have been flying at us fast & furiously, in ways big and small. Frank (Frank Dicopolous) and Blake (Elizabeth Kiefer) are inching toward a love connection. Rafe (EJ Bonilla) has joined the military and accepted his mother's "lifestyle." Doris (Orlagh Cassidy) finally came out to a stunned but accepting Ashley (Caitlin Van Zandt) and introduced her girlfriend to Springfield and viewers. Dinah (Gina Tognoni) and Mallet (Robert Bogue) have hooked back up in Europe, while Marina (Mandy Bruno) and Shayne (Jeff Branson) have moved closer to raise baby Henry. Cyrus (Murray Bartlett) has been revealed as Jenna's (Fiona Hutchinson) son. Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) has returned to Springfield for good, to reunite Sarah with Lizzie (Marcy Rylan), who is happily married to Bill (Daniel Cosgrove). Remy (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Christina (Karla Mosely) look as if they, too, are about to cement their love in matrimony once again. Olivia (Crystal Chapell) and Natalia (Jessica Leccia) have finally come out publicly as a couple. After years of creating misery for everyone in his path, Alan (Ron Raines, who has been brilliant of late) has finally found a bit of redemption through saving Phillip's (Grant Aleksander) life.
No matter how they got there, these happily-ever-afters have brought tears to my jaded eyes more than a few times the last several weeks and none more so than Monday's episode featuring most of the cast gathered to celebrate what would become the double wedding of Billy (Jordan Clarke) to the luminous Vanessa (Maeve Kincaid) and Buzz (Justin Deas) to Lillian (Tina Sloan).
Ah, Lillian Raines. After 26 years, Cedar's long-suffering, breast cancer and domestic abuse surviving, tortured, guilt-ridden, on-the-verge of spinsterhood head nurse finally recieved her own overdue happily ever after, but not before visiting the grave of her best friend, Maureen Bauer. In a briliantly written brief scene, Lillian — through tears of happiness, regret, pain, sadness and joy — poured her heart out. Most importantly, Lillian forgave herself for her role in Maureen's death and gave herself permission to live, love and be loved. What a beautiful, powerful statement about the power of forgiveness.
Sloan, who of late has been rewarded with more screen time than she's had over most of the past decade, was stellar throughout the entire episode, but her magnificent scenes at the gravesite were some of the veteran actresses' best work ever.
The double-wedding was a beautiful, joyous ceremony punctuated by the welcome returns of Dylan (Morgan England), Mindy (Krista Tesreau), Bridget (Melissa Hayden) and Nola Reardon (Lisa Brown), whose nod to the infamous incident where she and Vanessa wore the same dress to the country club brought a smile to my face, and tears to my eyes.
There are four episodes left and more resolutions to come: Phillip & Beth (Beth Chamberlin); Edmund (David Andrew Macdonald) and Jeffrey's (Bradley Cole) silly cat & mouse game; Cyrus & Mel (Yvonna Wright) and — of course — Josh (Robert Newman) & Reva (Kim Zimmer).
Stay tuned because the end is near...
RELATED: Requiem for a Daytime Drama, Part One | Requiem for a Daytime Drama, Part Two | Requiem for a Daytime Drama, Part Three
- Login or register to post comments
-
- Email this page
Comments
30 April 2009
1 week 1 day
J
As fast as the storylines were going, the end so far has been fantastic and the moment GL goes off for the last time on Friday................its just too much,
.The end of GL will not make daytime/or the industry the same again in my opinion. History will be gone after this Firday and the moment the show leaves our screens, our remaining soap opreas will officially be sailing into "unknown waters".
I'm going to miss your posts on GL. They are always so well written and with emotion,
. Your post on the final episode I'm sure will make me cry.
7 August 2009
10 weeks 1 day
Just lovely.
Your point about Tina Sloan's work is absolutely on-target, and allowing the actors and characters who have been with us the longest to do their work is bittersweet. Vanessa invoking Henry's letter in her wedding vows brought back a brilliant Maeve Kinkead performance nearly 15 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z986aeFI5sQ
To think what we missed in recent years by keeping folks over 50 barely visible. When I was a kid, I wasn't fast-forwarding through Bert Bauer and Barbara Thorpe to get to the Morgan-and-Kelly stuff. Well-written stories for talented actors are always compelling. It breaks my heart to wait until the end to get them back.
5 November 2007
4 hours 5 min
Thanks J. Can't wait for the rest. I almost can't wait for all this to be over cos I'm so tired of crying. Nola's comment about the dress was funny but I cried when she said it. Hell, I cried throughout the whole episode, moreso when Lillian went to Maureen's grave.
Did you know that Jeanne Cooper and Christian LeBlanc were at the wedding?
11 April 2009
4 hours 5 min
First, thank J. Bernard for your sharing thoughts. I agree with you (accept the slams against Bonnie Dennison. Neither she nor Caitlin Van Zant are as bad as the D.C. crew claims. I'll miss both of them.).
Second, I have never been as sad about a TV being canceled as I am about GL. I have been watching this silly program since I was in elementary school when I would visit my grandmother and be forced to watch her CBS stories with her. After awhile, I came to enjoy them.
I can't imagine a worse time in our history to cancel a long running soap opera. Given the trauma many people are feeling because of the economy, soaps offer a strong form of emotional support and connection to the past that few other cultural institutions can match.
While I understand that some folks are mad at Ellen Wheeler, I don't feel that she is the sole culprit. CBS and P&G execs forced Wheeler into pursuing the new format. If she weren't under the intense pressure to cut costs, the show would not have changed its format, alienating many long time viewers.
We are now down to 7 soaps. I would strongly encourage all soap viewers to hang in there and fight for your soaps. Don't abandon them. If there's something you don't like, speak up!
Finally, I wish GL did not waste any precious airtime on the ridiculous Edmund/Jeffrey chase scenes. They're all terrible. No one is as a bad shot as those two seem to be.
11 April 2009
4 hours 5 min
And, no, I'm not kidding. I do like Bonnie Dennison and Caitlin Van Zant. I've never had a problem with their acting.
They both are about to leave the airwaves. Given the realities of the acting profession, we will probably never see them again. I say let them go in peace.
1 June 2009
12 weeks 4 days
Alan's death today had me crying and i have hated alan for the past 5 years
2 April 2009
20 hours 19 min
Same here when Phillip was crying I was all weepy.
25 December 2008
1 min 19 sec
How about today's ending J.Bernard? I was bawling like a baby. Grant was perfect and the whole thingwas just so bitterweet but beautiful.
I like Bonnie at least she is no CVZ who is horrible. Nelson is right about that one.
Christina and Remy already got remarried at Bizzie's wedding
9 September 2008
6 min 29 sec
I'm writing Part Two, now.
14 September 2009
26 weeks 1 day
As I read your article this afternoon I realize how much RED you used. This is the real life story. They are out of work or looking for new nitches. Then there are the lives of those who we never see, the ones who make & embellish our actors & actresses. Since the story is rapping up swiftly leaving behind tidbits I'm wondering why not fill our needy addiction for them in primetime. I am feeling a bit worn out from crying over the lovely touching scenes with my favs and at the same time numb and afraid watching my other soaps. I experienced loss over Love is a Many Splendor Thing,Edge of Night and now GL. I don't want to do this. I am losing my fav The Unit and it probably won't be long before I loose Criminal Minds. It seems as though what I follow expires. I just know what I like and no matter what happens over the next three days it's the stars that I'm going to really miss. They are one's who we would never accepted replacement for like Reva/Kim,Josh/Robert,
Buzz/Justin,Vanessa/Meg they kept my stories alive with there faces and voices. They will be with me in my head & heart like my Grandmother and Mother who brought me up on Guiding Light. Thanks helping us work thru our sadness over these next few days.
25 February 2009
3 hours 3 min
"Alan's death today had me crying and i have hated alan for the past 5 years"
Okay, Wow ! Where was the spoiler alert ! (smile).
Living in Los Angeles, it is now 4:37pm and I haven't seen my 'story' yet..Haha...I watch it on DVR in the evenings.
WOW - I was hoping GL wasn't going to pull a last minute trick like that.
Speaking of Los Angeles and GL - yesterday's episode was delayed until 2:37 Tuesday morning! Interrupted by Tennis on Monday and delayed without warning.
Thank God I have a DVR. I feel sorry for those west coast viewers without one.
As for your post - excellent ! I loved it and the show.
Great seeing Lisa Brown and all the rest.
You Go Lillian !
7 July 2009
4 days 21 hours
Alan's death and Phillip's reaction were heartbreaking. The only thing that I didn't like was Alan having his last scenes alive with Buzz; I felt that should have been an Alexandra/Alan scene. Hell they could have even used 90% of the same dialog but it would have been better if Alan's last words were with his sister.
20 February 2008
20 min 23 sec
Who do you think you are Benard? Mimi Torchin!?! LOL! Great job on this. I hate how perfect everything is wrapping up. Life doesn't happen that way.
9 September 2008
6 min 29 sec
Awww, Hunter! ANY comparison to the legendary Mimi Torchin is high praise indeed! I do not live up to it, but I thank you for the sentiment.
I don't think having someone die at a double wedding reception is quite a "perfect" ending, though. LOL
22 August 2008
9 weeks 6 days
Lisa Brown got me crying on Monday when she waved good-bye to Company...which most of the audience probably didn't realize was her mother's boardinghouse waaaay back in the 80s.
25 February 2009
3 hours 3 min
Jefhamlin, I couldn't agree with you more. I loved Nola's kiss to Company. I gotta believe that was something Lisa Brown decided to do. And yes, I am old enough to remember that Company was once Tony & Company..Loved it.
And yes, I am old enough to know that JefHamlin was a character on ATWT. Haha..
30 March 2009
2 hours 33 min
J Benard such a nice well writter article! I have been following your tweets of the shows the last couple of weeks and I DVR'd GL this week just to see the ending. These shows have even got me like dang I am going to miss this show even though I haven't watched the show since about 2003 or 2004. Seeing Bridget and her mentioning Peter I was like OMG...I remember that story when Peter was born. Of course Blake his aunt asking about him and mentioning Hart. Besides my trying to figure out who some of these people are on the show I have been enjoying it overrall these past two days. Gosh that ending today brought a tear to my eye.
3 October 2008
1 day 3 hours
WTF! Alan died?! I haven't seen today's episode yet (had to go to the kiddie's school). Goddammit!
***running off to cbs.com to see today's episode***
7 July 2009
11 weeks 2 days
I'm glad it is all being tied up into one big happy ending (for the most part). Sure life doesn't work that way..when were soaps ever like life in the first place?! I, for one, appreciate it. The first two shows this week have been on par with some of the best GL episodes I've ever seen, BECAUSE we're getting the happy endings we all want (again..for the most part..poor Alan..at least he was able to atone for his sins!)
27 January 2009
4 weeks 4 days
The last week so far has been amazing and Alan today was so shocking but like life you are dealt a sharp turn in the road ...EVERYONE was soo good...thank you Ron Raines & Grant Aleksander..it has been a pleasure watching you both!
20 February 2008
20 min 23 sec
Alan dying was perfect... but there is no organic catharsis in the psychology of the characters. No journey. It's just too neat. Getting married isn't a happy ending. Learning from your mistakes is. It's happened with a few characters... but I would have had a climax first which prompts the characters to see the light. Finally.
14 December 2008
1 day 6 hours
I loved the article J. Bernard, but I have to say that I eould've perfered an all happy ending to our show this week. I can't *believe* they killed off Alan Spaulding! That type of soap death is wonderful and poignent when we know the show will still go on and there will be time to heal. But [to me] this just seemed like a giant slap in the face!