Robert Newman

Fans came out in droves to the Hyatt Regency in Pittsburgh this weekend for the So Long Springfield event, saluting 72 years of The Guiding Light. Since the event was sold out, it was clear that it would be crowded, but I certainly wasn't prepared for the amount of people who turned out to say goodbye to something that they hold so close to their hearts. READ MORE

Guiding Light fans on the West Coast will now have a chance to say "So Long Springfield" when the event makes a stop in Las Vegas. The hot Nevada destination will mark the third city on the tour that plays host to popular GL stars, following Pittsburgh and Atlanta. Appearances by twelve stars are scheduled for Saturday, December 5, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino for an afternoon and evening session. More details after the jump. READ MORE

Guiding Light may be off the air, but some fans will have a chance to give the show and some of it's stars a proper send off. Pittsburgh will kick off a "So Long Springfield" event that will host ten actors from GL. Pittsburgh has long been a core fan base and as a result, it was chosen to be the first stop. There is an afternoon and evening session slated for Saturday, October 24 and an afternoon session set for Sunday, October 25.

If you can't make it to Pittsburgh, then head on down to the next stop, Atlanta. An afternoon and evening event is scheduled for Saturday, November 7. The website has important information, so click HERE to get the scoop before you make your plans. Don't miss out on your chance to say so long to Springfield!

September 18, 2009 is a day that will live forever in broadcast history. As we all know, it is the day the longest running television drama ever said "Goodbye" to the world. I watched the finale of Guiding Light with the heaviest of hearts. I couldn't believe this was the last time I would see Josh (Robert Newman) and Reva (Kim Zimmer) give each other those looks that could fry an egg on the street. I couldn't believe it was the last time I would see Alexandra Spaulding be absolutely fabulous on my screen. Don't forget to add some extra fabulous Fletcher Reade (Jay Hammer) on the side.

I can't tell you the pain in my heart when those infamous words "The End" flashed across the screen. It felt like I was losing apart of my soul. You see, Guiding Light was my grandmother's show. She watched all the soap operas and I do mean all of them, but The Guiding Light, as she called it, was her absolute favorite. Memories of watching this show with her when I was little came flooding back to me while watching the finale. Those are some of my best memories of her, watching her "story", The Guiding Light. She passed away about a year ago and watching Guiding Light helped me feel connected to her in a way. That connection is gone now that her show is gone. Losing Guiding Light is so much more than just losing another American soap opera, it's like losing a family member. I don't think it will truly hit me that my grandmother's show is gone until I turn on the television at 2 p.m. on Monday and nothing's guiding my light. READ MORE

The final part of a highly personal, non-objective series highlighting various aspects of the last episodes of Guiding Light, which which ended its 72 year run on September 18th.

What was it that got me first?

Was it the opening flurry of Guiding Light's logos throughout it's 72 year history or was it the show's last "Only Love" opening featuring the most of the current cast as it had never done before? Whatever it was that first triggered a torrent of emotions that ran through me, this is what happened on Guiding Light today:

In the wake of Alan Spaulding's death, Fletcher whisked Alexandra away to see the world. Doris pulled strings and got Ashlee into a writer's program at Berkeley; Daisy and Ashley went to California together for school, while James stayed behind and bonded with his father. Mindy informed Billy that she was moving back to Springfield. Remy and a newly pregnant Christina got married in the quickest wedding in soap opera history. Olivia & Natalia settled on a name for the baby — Francesca, named after Frank. Maureen played matchmaker for Matt and one of her pretty school teachers. After weeks of online dating, Frank & Blake finally hooked up for their date, with seemingly all of Springfield stalking him. Beth gave Phillip, who once had great dreams of being a writer, a journal in which to put his every thought.

Finally, there was everything involving Josh (Robert Newman) & Reva (Kim Zimmer).

It wasn't what happened "today" that was most important; it was what happened "one year later" in Springfield that truly mattered. As I sit a home, with the television now turned off and with more than a few tears in my cynical eyes, I cannot help but be amazed that I bore witness to what I believe was one of the greatest series finales of an American institution as has been produced during the long — and now endangered — life of a uniquely American genre. READ MORE

The fourth 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

The penultimate episode of Guiding Light was light on story, but extraordinarily high in emotion and closure — and there was one bit of ridiculousness about which, at this late date, I could ultimately only laugh.

Jill Lorie Hurst & Ellen Wheeler threw in so many twists, turns and delightful surprises that it was hard to keep up! Danny (Paul Anthony Stewart), Michelle (Nancy St. Alban) and Robbie moved back to Springfield! Remy (Lawrence Saint-Victor) found out that he and Christina (Karla Mosely) really weren't married — again, only to be informed by the not-Mrs. Boudreaux that she is pregnant! Mel (Yvonna Wright) & Cryus (Murray Bartlett) burned up the well-worn sheets at the Beacon! Even Daisy (Bonnie Dennison) got accepted to college, which was a delightful shock, given that not only did I have no idea she had applied to a university, but was more shocked that she actually could read!

In some ways these developments were mere appetizers for two of the biggest, most emotionally satisfying payoffs Guiding Light could have ever delivered for its long time, faithful fans! READ MORE

The third 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.

The third from the last episode of Guiding Light was all about reactions and coming to grips with the demise of Alan Spaulding, mirroring the mixed emotions of the show's fans as the series takes its final bows.

As news of Alan Spaulding's (Ron Raines) death rippled through town, we were treated to one of the most honest portrayals of how people react in such circumstances as has ever been seen on daytime. Over the last 30 years, Alan had committed any number of heinous crimes against most of the citizens of Springfield and yet his passing left many stunned (Ashlee, Blake, Reva, Jonathan, Frank), some confused (grandson Rafe), and others shocked & saddened (Lillian, Buzz).

When all is said and done, today's episode was rocked by Grant Aleksander (Phillip), Zack Conroy (James), and Marj Dusay (Alexandra). READ MORE

The second 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.

Let me begin by making an audacious claim. In my opinion, the September 15, 2009 episode of Guiding Light — the fourth from its last broadcast ever — may just go down as one of the series' greatest episodes of all time. This is not hyperbole; maybe not top five, but certainly top twenty.

Picking up immediately after the magnificent double wedding, the expertly paced episode had everything: the heartfelt engagement of Phillip & Beth; Josh's bittersweet decision to leave Springfield and find himself; the advancement of the romances of the teenaged James & Daisy and the smoking hot Mel & Cyrus; the ongoing tease of a courtship between Frank & Blake; and the long overdue reconciliation of Lizzie and Sarah, as Jonathan gave the Spaulding heiress shared custody of their daughter.

Every actor was spot on, including the sometimes over-the-top Tom Pelphrey. However, if Monday's episode belonged to Tina Sloan (Lillian), Tuesday's honors were split between Robert Newman (Josh) and Ron Raines (Alan). READ MORE

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. READ MORE

Damn it! This just makes me teary eyed – and pissed at a certain executive producer... Thanks to beautreal for the tip and tvobsessive2008 for the clip!