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

User Rating:

6.6/10   

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 & 368 nominations

Cast

Kim Zimmer	...	Reva Shayne / ... (562 episodes, 1983-2009)
Robert Newman	...	Joshua Lewis / ... (522 episodes, 1981-2009)
Lia Yang	...	Susan (507 episodes, 1993-2007)
Ron Raines	...	Alan Spaulding / ... (430 episodes, 1994-2009)
Beth Chamberlin	...	Lorelei Hills / ... (427 episodes, 1989-2009)
Bradley Cole	...	Jeffrey O'Neill / ... (385 episodes, 1999-2009)
Beth Ehlers	...	Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding Aitoro / ... (374 episodes, 1987-2008)
Justin Deas	...	Buzz Cooper / ... (372 episodes, 1992-2009)
Marcy Rylan	...	Lizzie Spaulding / ... (372 episodes, 2006-2009)
Frank Dicopoulos	...	Frank Cooper / ... (366 episodes, 1987-2009)
Gina Tognoni	...	Dinah Marler / ... (363 episodes, 2004-2009)
Crystal Chappell	...	Olivia Spencer / ... (359 episodes, 1999-2009)
Mandy Bruno	...	Marina Cooper / ... (349 episodes, 2004-2009)
Robert Bogue	...	A.C. Mallet / ... (324 episodes, 2005-2009)
Nicole Forester	...	Cassie Winslow / ... (298 episodes, 2005-2008)
Bonnie Dennison	...	Daisy Lemay / ... (268 episodes, 2007-2009)
Michael O'Leary	...	Rick Bauer / ... (265 episodes, 1983-2009)
Daniel Cosgrove	...	Bill Lewis / ... (248 episodes, 2002-2009)
Jordan Clarke	...	Billy Lewis / ... (243 episodes, 1983-2009)
Murray Bartlett	...	Cyrus Foley (241 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jessica Leccia	...	Natalia Rivera / ... (233 episodes, 2007-2009)
Grant Aleksander	...	Phillip Granville Spaulding / ... (231 episodes, 1983-2009)

Also Known As:

Guiding Light (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1952-1967) | Color (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:

Head writer Doug Marland originally planned to have the character of Jackie Marler shot in cold blood by her schizophrenic sister-in-law Carrie Marler (Jane Elliot). When Elliot was fired, Marland killed Jackie off in a plane crash instead and had to scrap a long-term murder trial in which Carrie's split personalities would be revealed on the stand. A couple of years later when he was writing ATWT, Marland got to write his scrapped Carrie story in the saga of Royce Keller, the man with the split personalities who went on trial for killing his sister Neal.

Quotes:

Frank Achilles 'Buzz' Cooper, Sr.: Change? You changed her? How much? You can't expect her not to be what she is. I mean you can't... you have to live life with your eyes open to what she is. Because if you walk around with your eyes closed, pretending your blind, you know that's like rolling molasses up a sand hill.
Henry Cooper: Molasses up a sand hill? Dad, where do you get this crap?
Frank Achilles 'Buzz' Cooper, Sr.: I'm greek. You know, epic tragedy, we invented it and drama...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Malcolm in the Middle: Buseys Run Away (#6.2)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Die Springfield Story

comment on show

I have watched Guiding Light long enough to know that Kim Zimmer is the most talented actress there is on tv. She is awesome in that she draws viewers into her performance and makes them feel what the character Reva Shayne is feeling. The show is one of the best of all time, the writing is unique and centers around long time Springfield families. Guiding Light is the longest running daytime drama and I think that says a lot about the quality of the show. With actors and actresses like Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Beth Ehlers, Grant Alexander, Jerry ver Dorn and plenty others, the show has just what it needs to be successful for many more years to come!