What Happened on the Final Episode of ‘Guiding Light’?

©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection

CBS has three soap operas currently on the air, with the addition of Beyond the Gates, which debuts on February 24. But there was a time when the eye network had four daytime dramas on its lineup — including Guiding Light, which has been gone since September 18, 2009. The loss of the show was devastating, as viewers grew up on the serial, which aired for 57 years, and was watched by not only their mothers, but also their grandmothers and even their great-grandmothers.

The series is still beloved and greatly missed by its loyal fan base — but can you remember how the show ended?

In the beginning

Guiding Light, which began as a radio serial on January 25, 1937, made entertainment history when it made the move to television on June 30, 1952. Created by Irna Phillips, GL’s early years on radio focused on the character of Rev. Rutledge (Arthur Peterson), who had a lamp in his study window. When those in trouble saw the light, they knew they could turn to him for help.

The Write Stuff: How Guiding Light founds its place on TV

In 1952, the show transitioned to TV, and the Bauers became the show’s main family. Over the decades, the writers of GL read like a virtual Who’s Who of key daytime scribes. In addition to Phillips, writers for the show included Bill Bell (Young and the Restless; Bold and the Beautiful), Agnes Nixon (All My Children; One Life to Live), Bridget and Jerome Dobson (Santa Barbara), Douglas Marland (General Hospital; Loving; As the World Turns), and Pamela Long (who began her soap opera career playing Ashley Linden on Texas).

In the early 1990s, after Long’s exit, the show’s head writing team was comprised of Stephen Demorest, Nancy Curlee, and James E. Reilly. In the mid-1990s, Megan McTavish (who once played Lola on GL) took over head writing chores. Other writers included James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten, Ellen Weston, David Kreizman, and Jill Lorie Hurst.

THE GUIDING LIGHT, Ellen Demming, Susan Douglas, Herbert Nelson, Lyle Sudrow, on set, (1952), 1952-2009.

Everett Collection

GL is remembered both for its strong sense of family and for telling stories of romance, adventure, and important social issues. In 1962, Nixon used the beloved character of Bert Bauer, played by Charita Bauer (the surnames were a coincidence), to help educate viewers about uterine cancer. Years later, in 1984, the show wrote in Bauer’s partial leg amputation, which the actress discussed in an interview.

In the late 1970s, GL, written by the Dobsons, tackled the topic of marital rape with the characters of Roger and Holly, played by Michael Zaslow and Maureen Garrett.

Next, Douglas Marland, following a successful stint as GH’s head writer, breathed new life into Springfield with the character of Nola Reardon (Lisa Brown), who fantasized about becoming the wife of medical intern Kelly Nelson (John Wesley Shipp). Jennifer Richards (Geraldine Court), an innocent woman, went to prison briefly for the murder of Lucille Wexler (Rita Llyod) so that Amanda McFarren (Kathleen Cullen) wouldn’t learn that Jennifer was her birth mother. (This was in a time when illegitimate children simply weren’t talked about.)

Shenanigans at Spaulding Enterprises heated up with the introduction of the Chamberlains – Henry (William Roerick) and his daughter Vanessa (Daytime Emmy-winner Maeve Kinkead), a former love of Ross Marler’s (Daytime Emmy-winner Jerry verDorn). Irredeemable Alan Spaulding (Chris Bernau) found redemption thanks to the love of a good woman — Hope Bauer (Elvera Roussel).

Jane Elliot, who had won a Daytime Emmy for playing Tracy Quartermaine on GH, was tapped to play the complicated Carrie Todd, a woman with a tragic past. Carrie developed different personalities and left town for treatment. Producers wrapped up this story early, prompting Marland to exit the show. A series of interim writers took the reins but they failed to capture the magic. Then, Pamela Long came to the show, following the cancellation of NBC’s Texas.

Long’s glorious tenures at GL are remembered fondly for the stories of the Four Musketeers – Phillip Spaulding (Grant Aleksander), Rick Bauer (Michael O’Leary), Mindy Spaulding (Krista Tesreau), and Beth Raines (Judi Evans). Long also created the wildly popular Reva Shayne Lewis (four-time Daytime Emmy-winner Kim Zimmer), Alexandra Spaulding Von Halkein (Beverlee McKinsey), and India Von Halkein (Mary Kay Adams).

The scribe’s second run writing on the show told the stories of tortured Sonni (Michelle Forbes) and her twin Solita. Long wrote Phillip’s takedown of Alan as well as the introduction of bombastic Harley Davidson Cooper (Beth Ehlers).

Trouble ahead: the ’90s

The 1992-93 season dealt some tough casting blows to GL. McKinsey exercised a clause in her contract to exit the show. Popular newcomer Sherry Stringfield left as Blake, finding work quickly on NYPD BLUE and ER. The equally popular Kimberly Simms, who had been recast  as Mindy, left. She returned to the show for a few episodes in 1997 when the GL featured H.B.’s funeral, following the death of the actor who portrayed him, Daytime Emmy-winner Larry Gates.

THE GUIDING LIGHT, Beverlee McKinsey, 1993, 1952-2009.

ph: E.J. Carr/© CBS /Courtesy Everett Collection

Following these losses, there came one that fans feel the show never recovered from: the death of beloved Maureen Bauer, played by Daytime Emmy-winner Ellen Parker. Maureen discovered that her husband Ed (Peter Simon) and her “pal” Lillian had had an affair. Maureen couldn’t see the fact that it was an act of mercy on Ed’s part (Lillian had breast cancer and thought she was going to die).

Ed tracked a devastated and furious Maureen down to the Bauer cabin. She blasted him, as this wasn’t the first time he’d cheated on her — Ed had had a fling with Holly a few years earlier. “You have broken my heart,” Maureen told Ed as she walked out the door.

Tragically, Maureen’s car skidded off the road on a wintery day. She died from injuries she sustained in the wreck.

The show suffered again a few years later as the O.J. Simpson trial played out, which led many affiliates to move GL to an early morning time slot.

There were other problems, as well. Mob stories have worked well on other soaps, but many fans rejected the criminal Santos clan, which was introduced in the late 1990s. The action also shifted far away from Springfield to the island of San Cristobel.

One highlight in the show’s final years was the introduction of actor Tom Pelphrey as Jonathan, Reva’s long-lost son. But a series of odd casting choices were unpopular with viewers, and fan favorites Phillip and Ross were killed off.

After the real-life passing of Michael Zaslow (ex-Roger), who died from ALS, the show wrote in his death; family, friends, and foes examined their feelings about the dastardly Roger.

In 2008, under executive producer Ellen Wheeler (ex-Marley/ex-Vicky, Another World), the show pivoted to a new production model. Episodes were shot on location in Peapack, New Jersey. Interior sets were redone and appeared smaller. There were also some visually beautifully produced episodes. Natalia (Jessica Leccia) leaving Frank (Frank Dicopoulos) at the altar and walking out of the church and towards the gazebo in the snow had a beautiful movie quality to it. Other days, however, fans were praying that someone would locate a tripod to stop the jiggly camera work.

Natalia and Olivia Spencer’s (Crystal Chappell) same-sex romance became a fan favorite. The actresses who brought that story to life have continued to act together in the Web series Venice.

Go to the light: The final season of Guiding Light

2009 started off with hope as GL announced that Aleksander was returning as Phillip, who wasn’t dead after all. Phillip’s first few episodes involved a valiant effort to save Coop’s (John Driscoll) life and interrupting the marriage of true-love Beth (Beth Chamberlin) to his father Alan (Ron Raines).

It seemed like a bad April Fool’s Day joke when the show’s cancellation was announced on April 1. Sadly, the news wasn’t a lie. GL was cancelled. The show’s final broadcast was set for Friday, September 18 of the same year.

Ironically, in its final months, GL became the show fans wanted it to be for years. There was an emphasis on familiar favorites as a slew of former cast members returned. We saw Maureen Garrett back once again as Holly, while Peter Simon returned to play Ed, and Krista Tesreau reprised Mindy.

As the show headed into its final episodes, Phillip, who was dying from a mystery illness, received a life-saving blood transfusion from his father Alan (Ron Raines) — which was ironic, as there was no blood tie between them. While Phillip lived, Alan died from a heart attack. His family gathered to spread Alan’s ashes.

The show’s writing team worked overtime to give fans endings that were both satisfying and happy. As difficult as it was to say goodbye, viewers were left knowing that the Bauers, Spauldings, Lewises, Coopers, and their friends were together and happy.

Billy (Jordan Clarke) and Vanessa remarried in a joint ceremony with Buzz (Justin Deas) and Lillian Raines (Tina Sloan). Prior to the ceremony, Lillian (at Sloan’s suggestion to the writers) visited the grave of Maureen, regretting the sequence of events that led to Maureen’s death.

Past favorites returned for some farewell episodes including Lisa Brown’s Nola, Melissa Hayden’s Bridget, and Morgan Englund’s Dylan. Veteran fans teared up when Nola blew a sentimental farewell kiss to Company, the popular hangout once owned by her family.

Natalia and Olivia became a couple, as did Blake (Elizabeth Keifer) and Frank. Fletcher Reade (Jay Hammer) returned to take Alexandra (Marj Dusay) on a cruise. Former married couple Ed and Holly also went off on a trip together.

Phillip and Beth were living at the Spaulding mansion. And, finally, Rick and Mindy got married. The show did a time jump in its last episode, which showed that the characters were all still together and living happy lives. What more could viewers have asked for?

Lastly, Reva, along with her little boy Colin (whose father was Jeffrey), reunited with Josh by the lighthouse. They decided to drive off into the sunset together. “You ready?” Josh asked his true love. “Always,” Reva said as the show came to a close.

Afterglow: The legacy of Guiding Light

In 2016, seven years after the show concluded, four GL cast members – Zimmer, Newman, Aleksander, and Chamberlin – were invited to appear on CBS talk show The Talk to reminisce about the show’s run, as CBS celebrated 30 years of being No. 1!

Members of the show’s cast continue to act in both daytime and prime time. Former GL actors who can be seen on soaps today include Rick Hearst (ex-Alan-Michael) as Ric on GH; Lawrence Saint-Victor (ex-Remy) as Carter on B&B; and Cynthia Watros (ex-Annie) as Nina on GH. And there’s always the hope that the show may be revived someday, should Procter & Gamble ever choose to revisit the idea.

 

 

 

 

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