Guiding Light

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Guiding Light ranks 1,717 out of the 18,229 shows on TV.com.

The 391 users who count themselves as Guiding Light fans have written a total of 62 reviews.

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The late soap journalist Christopher Schemering once wrote that soap operas are not just dramas; "they're little pockets of American history." So it's only fitting to consider that at one time, "The Guiding Light,"-the longest running program in broadcast history, spanning 71 years-- brought fifteen-minute bits... more »

The late soap journalist Christopher Schemering once wrote that soap operas are not just dramas; "they're little pockets of American history." So it's only fitting to consider that at one time, "The Guiding Light,"-the longest running program in broadcast history, spanning 71 years-- brought fifteen-minute bits of escapism to war-weary housewives, as their men trudged off to fight the indignities of WWII. It brought social awareness to a nation that began to think about the big picture beyond their picket fences and suburban streets. Soap opera is a truly dynamic genre that reflects life as it is lived, the quintessential American art form. Although berated and belittled, the soap opera has an illustrious lineage, with no less than the books of Charles Dickins as an inspiration. Created by the legendary, if not iron-fisted Irna Phillips, "The Guiding Light" began its life on January 25, 1937. Originally, the show focused on the Chicagoan suburb of Five Points, a bustling enclave of German-Jewish immigrants hoping to find their own piece of the American dream. Giving them the hope and inspiration they needed was a kindly minister named Reverend John Ruthledge (voiced by Arthur Peterson of "Soap" fame). The Reverend's sermons of hope and forgiveness made such an impression that a bestselling book was published of his most popular homilies. The Reverend's message could be summed up by his favorite mantra from Edwin Markum "There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own." On the desk near his window, the minister placed an old lantern, a "guiding light" to those parishioners passing in the cold, hopeless night. In the 1940's the Reverend Ruthledge enrolled as a chaplain to do his part of the war effort. However, when the production of the show moved to the west coast, Peterson refused to join them, so Irna Phillips had the minister die when his plane was shot down overseas. His "friendship lamp" went too with the production move to the town of Selby Flats, California. Reverend Matthews took over for the late Rev. Ruthledge as the center of hope and inspiration. However, by the time that the show was slated to move to television, the religious undertones of the show were virtually gone and the focus was moved yet again to the family Bauer. ***To be continued...***less «

• The Guiding Light Elimination Game (Male Characters)

  Rules are the same as any other elimination game: 1. Every character gets 20 points at the start. 2. You can take away a ...more »

  Rules are the same as any other elimination game: 1. Every character gets 20 points at the start. 2. You can take away a point from one character and give it to another. 3. Whenever a character gets 0 points, he/she is out of the game (Add to "Out of Game" list below). 4. Feel free to add character to the list (Give new character 20 points). 5. You can vote once an hour. 6. Keep the winners at the top and the losers at the bottom. 7. Keep character points in correct numerical order. 8. Just copy the text the previous voter wrote, change the names and change the points. 20 Frank 20 Cooper 20 Gus 20 Alan 20 Dylan 20 Alan-Michael 20 Rick 20 Cyrus 20 Joshua 20 Billy 20 Jeffrey 20 Mallet 20 Rafe 20 Buzz 20 Remy Out of Game: less «

  Billie3 Last online 9 hrs, 39 mins ago
  405 comments, last one 9 hrs, 41 mins ago + Add Comment

• The Guiding Light Elimination Game (Female Characters)

  Rules are the same as any other elimination game: 1. Every character gets 20 points at the start. 2. You can take away a ...more »

  Rules are the same as any other elimination game: 1. Every character gets 20 points at the start. 2. You can take away a point from one character and give it to another. 3. Whenever a character gets 0 points, he/she is out of the game (Add to "Out of Game" list below). 4. Feel free to add character to the list (Give new character 20 points). 5. You can vote once an hour. 6. Keep the winners at the top and the losers at the bottom. 7. Keep character points in correct numerical order. 8. Just copy the text the previous voter wrote, change the names and change the points. 20 Dinah 20 Harley 20 Lizzie 20 Olivia 20 Marina 20 Reva 20 Cassie 20 Ava 20 Beth 20 Mel 20 Ashlee 20 Daisy 20 Alexandra 20 Natalia Out of Game: less «

  Billie3 Last online 9 hrs, 39 mins ago
  416 comments, last one 9 hrs, 42 mins ago + Add Comment

• Guiding Light Elimination Game (Male and Female Current Cast)

  Same rules apply for any elimination game. Each character starts with 20 points, and you add one point to your favorite and...more »

  Same rules apply for any elimination game. Each character starts with 20 points, and you add one point to your favorite and subject one point from your least favorite. Once a person reaches "0" points then they are "OUT OF THE GAME" put there name in the out of the game line below. You may vote only once per hour Characters Dinah-20 Lizzie-20 Olivia-20 Marina-20 Reva-20 Beth-20 Mel-20 Ashlee-20 Christina-20 Daisy-20 Alexandera-20 Natalia-20 Doris-20 Lilian-20 Vanessa-20 Felicia-20 Emma-20 Blake-20 Frank-20 Alan-20 Rick-20 Cyrus-20 Josh-20 Billy-20 Bill-20 Jeffery-20 Mallet-20 Rafe-20 Shane-20 Remy-20 Matt-20 Clayton-20 James-20 Phillip-20 Buzz-20 Out of Game: less «

  thedude200512 Last online 1 hr, 15 mins ago
  5 comments, last one Jun 9, 2009 + Add Comment

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  8 Great

  This daytime programme has stood the test of time, but one has to wonder if time has really run out for this programme or IF this programme can rise from the ashes that recent directors/producers/writers have taken it down to? hide « show »

  I have watched this programme since since 1967, when I remember that it was still in black/white. Through the years I have watched unbelievable storyline come & go but I NEVER thought I would see the end of this programme. I was stunned to see that they were turning off the light for good and had to wonder if it was because of all the changes in the recent yrs. I was not, and still am not, a fan of the way the programme shooting was changed. I thought, and apparently ALOT of fans agreed with me, that it wasn't beneficial to the show. Then some of the solid staples of the show that left (ALOT of rumours were that they didn't like the changes either), yet this had happened before, but never when the show was already bleeding. This led to even lower ratings, and one would think that if the show wasn't doing well with ratings that some of the changes that had been implemented would be rethought, yet this wasn't the case. The powers that be (Ellen Wheeler and David Kreizman) did not listen to their fans, which honestly boggles ones' mind. It seemed to me that those in charge of keeping this show on the air and successful weren't interested in this any longer. Ellen Wheeler made the choice to "change" not only the setting look but major characters and focus on a younger cast. Once again she did not listen to the shows fans. I can not tell you how many message boards I visited during this time of "change" and the message was the same... THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, yet Wheeler and head writer David Kreizman DIDN'T listen to their public. They stayed the course of the changes to the show (i.e, how it was shot as well as the storylines that were just "out there"), and even though they knew it was killing Irna Phillips lifes' work, they went ahead with "their" vision. I am very sad and angry that a staple of my life will be no more come September. This programme took me through my childhood illnesses, college exams, raising my four sons and everything else in between.

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  maggiewhy Added 1 day, 23 hrs ago All my reviews
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  8.5 Great

  Okay, so you have decided to replace GL...how about at least considering a refreshing replacement.... hide « show »

  While I am a huge Guiding Light fan, I am afraid they are in fact going to move the show. My biggest fear - another game show, ugh, or worse yet another JUDGE show (zzzz). Give the Daytime viewer a little credit. Really, how about thinking outside of the box..... CBS and P&G should look at replacing it with Kim's Closet - a new, refreshing lifestyle and makeover show. They are saying the host Kimberly is going to do for fashion what Rachel Ray has done for food - make it fun. Finally, a fun, relatable daytime lifestyle show... www.KimsCloset.TV

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  GoodTVGirl Added Jun 5, 2009 All my reviews
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  1 Abysmal

  Who didn't see this coming? hide « show »

  I watched from the early 90s and stop watching about 3-4 years ago. Certainly the acting talent was there and it's a shame that writers refused to up-play the positive for the instant gratification angle. We never thought that the Bauers would have been shoved on the back burner and then pushed nearly completely off the map. Does anyone remember the most recent Annie storyline where she drugged Josh into comming on to Cassie? We were all horrified! Yet these current writers thought it was fantastic to hook Cassie and Josh up a few years later. The problem is that the writers seemed to equate romance with random sexual attraction. The difference, for those who are confused, is that I may fantasized about Jason Statham but I LOVE my hubby. Reva may have had a "thing" for Richard but she LOVED Josh. Super couples shouldn't be equated with what ever the current status quo on marriage is. No one knows people like this in real life and they love the "happily ever after" when it comes to love. There are other ways to inflict drama other than divorce and talented writers would have utilized the history. Instant gratification works in short term stories (movies) but not on a show that is shown 5 days a week and shame on the writers for taking 5 decades and turning it into s hollow shell. I don't believe that soaps are a "dying art", I believe that writers have forgotten why these shows were great and tried to turn them into twisted, bed-hopping, Sex in the City-esque soft corn porn nightmares that seem to be popular but inevitably get cancelled after a few seasons. I must have missed the memo that says couples can endure.

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  mama1974 Added Jun 3, 2009 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  I think we should all protest/boycott the CBS stations,Proctor & Gamble for taking this show off the air. I know for me i will not be purchasing ANY of the Proctor and Gamble products no matter how tempting they may be. hide « show »

  stop buying their products, they say that actions speak in volumes well lets' see if it really does? they all are great characters!!!!!does this have anything to do with GM going under???s really bad decision on Proctor and Gambles part as well as CBS! you have lost a loyal fan and consumer....guess maybe i don't matter???i will NOT be purchasing anything else to do with Proctor and Gamble no matter what it is!! and cbs lost another loyal fan@@ good luck to them both. will the GL be picked up on antoher channe? does anyone know??? I mean they are bringing back major characters, how are they just gonna drop this show after 71+ years? i don't get it..i would be willing to bet that just as many men watch this as women///

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  traceymema07 Added May 29, 2009 All my reviews
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  8.5 Great

  hide « show »

  I love guiding light and I hope that the show is renewed. It is one of my faviortes. A must see! I hope that someone picks up the show sometime in the future or soon. I am so glad that TV.com did a section on GL because I've always wanted a place that I could go and look up old episodes and read about them. A new fan of GL 23 Years Old

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  tashamonee Added May 21, 2009 All my reviews