"The Guiding Light" (1952) TV series 1952-2009

Creator:

Irna Phillips

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

30 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Life happens here.

Plot:

Guiding Light takes place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield. In its early years the stories centered on the middle class Bauer family...

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Soap Opera | Beautiful Woman | Fictional City | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

96 wins & 369 nominations

Cast

Kim Zimmer	...	Reva Shayne / ... (575 episodes, 1983-2009)
Robert Newman	...	Joshua Lewis / ... (536 episodes, 1981-2009)
Lia Yang	...	Susan (507 episodes, 1993-2007)
Ron Raines	...	Alan Spaulding / ... (435 episodes, 1994-2009)
Beth Chamberlin	...	Lorelei Hills / ... (431 episodes, 1989-2009)
Bradley Cole	...	Jeffrey O'Neill / ... (392 episodes, 1999-2009)
Justin Deas	...	Buzz Cooper / ... (383 episodes, 1992-2009)
Marcy Rylan	...	Lizzie Spaulding / ... (383 episodes, 2006-2009)
Frank Dicopoulos	...	Frank Cooper / ... (380 episodes, 1987-2009)
Beth Ehlers	...	Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding Aitoro / ... (374 episodes, 1987-2008)
Crystal Chappell	...	Olivia Spencer / ... (370 episodes, 1999-2009)
Gina Tognoni	...	Dinah Marler / ... (366 episodes, 2004-2009)
Mandy Bruno	...	Marina Cooper / ... (362 episodes, 2004-2009)
Robert Bogue	...	A.C. Mallet / ... (335 episodes, 2005-2009)
Nicole Forester	...	Cassie Winslow / ... (298 episodes, 2005-2008)
Bonnie Dennison	...	Daisy Lemay / ... (278 episodes, 2007-2009)
Michael O'Leary	...	Rick Bauer / ... (267 episodes, 1983-2009)
Daniel Cosgrove	...	Bill Lewis / ... (258 episodes, 2002-2009)
Jordan Clarke	...	Billy Lewis / ... (250 episodes, 1983-2009)
Murray Bartlett	...	Cyrus Foley (250 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jessica Leccia	...	Natalia Rivera / ... (241 episodes, 2007-2009)
Grant Aleksander	...	Phillip Granville Spaulding / ... (239 episodes, 1983-2009)
Lawrence Saint-Victor	...	Remy Boudreau / ... (231 episodes, 2006-2009)

Also Known As:

Guiding Light (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

15 min (1952-1968) | 30 min (1968-1977) | 60 min (1977-)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White (1952-1967) | Colour (1967-)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (1952-1987) | Stereo (1987-)

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)

Trivia:

In 1989, Michael Zaslow, who was killed off as Roger Thorpe in 1980, was asked to return to GL to play Alan Spaulding after Alan's long-time portrayer Christopher Bernau died. Zaslow declined, saying he was too identified with the role of Roger. Because they wanted Zaslow back, producers chose to bring Roger back from the dead.

Quotes:

[Later, the two of them discuss their day]
Harley: Did you buy or seel any small countries today?
Gus: No, that's tomorrow at 4.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 15th Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Die Springfield Story

Please watch Guiding Light and Save television history from cancellation!

I love Guiding Light. In fact last Friday, our CBS affiliate in New York interrupted for "breaking news" within minutes of the show's finale. It's bad enough on a Friday a few minutes before the credits ran. I have watched Guiding Light for 14 years now and I am hooked. This year, CBS will decide it's fate. With only 2 million Nielson viewers, the show could be canceled and replaced with useless television talk shows which are cheaper to make. If Guiding Light and As The World Turns are canceled, daytime television would be in enormous trouble. I remember a time when New York City was the capital of the soaps but now only 4 soaps remain. I was furious with Mayor Giuliani for not preventing the cancellation of Another World in 1999. He did nothing but yet his wife appeared on the show and others as well. If Guiding Light gets canceled, Irna Phillips and Charita Bauer would be turning over in their graves over the loss. I hope CBS makes the right decision! I hope you watch the show for its continuous excellence in acting, writing, and directing. This show deserves to be recognized as a part of American history. Believe me, the Roger and Holly relationship far outweighed any couple on daytime or prime-time television. I love Doug Hutchison's portrayal of the mysterious Sebastian Hulce. I love my veteran performers like Marj Dusay, Ron Raines, Jerry ver Dorn, Maureen Garrett, Beth Ehlers, Frank Dicopoulos. Believe me, there is nothing on prime-time or in the cinema that is like Guiding Light! If you can watch Desperate Housewives, give daytime a try. You just might like it.