"Guiding Light" question?

Question

"Guiding Light" was used to be a very good daytime drama, but in recent years, the show started to go downhill from there.

First at all, they cloned Reva. Second came the departures of Philip, Gus, and Harley. Third, members of the Santos family, especially Danny and Michelle, were written out one by one. Fourth, Jonathan and Tammy fell in love despite the fact they were actually cousins. And last but not least, the show had become something straight out of reality TV.

I used to be a huge fan of GL, but not anymore these days. I do think the show has become lamer and lamer at times. But hey, it's just a soap opera.

So did "Guiding Light" really jump the shark?

Answer 1

Let me first just say that I think what a lot of people are upset about is one the way the camera work is being done. Secondly they have lost a few long time actors/actresses. I have been watching GL for a few years and it is one of my favorite soap's. I was upset by Harley and Gus leaving as well, but that happens in soap's. I also watch ATWT and they just got rid of long time actress Martha Byrne(Lily Snyder) so it's not just GL!  They have switched to free hand held cameras and they are spending less time in the traditional studio sets. I know that when they first started that I was like what the heck is this, but being a FAN of the show I stuck with it and now I don't even notice it. CBS and the producers of GL are wagering the new look can help reinvent the show and raise ratings. Making the LONGEST running program in daytime history a model for the future of daytime....Despite low ratings, the show won 2007 Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Writing and Best Show.

It might just be a soap, however GL is the longest running soap in production and the longest running drama in TV history!  I applaud GL for showing the REAL story lines that they do...GL has delt with Breast Cancer(Reva),the harsh reality of being over weight(Ashlee),Money troubles that a lot of people are facing in the real world today(Harley and her family),What is feels like to loose a child(Cassie). In my opinion GL is one of the most realistic soap on TV. I am not saying that the other soaps are not real! Every soap has it's ups and downs and GL is no different.....

Answer 2

Guiding Light has went downhill, to say the least. That still isn't to say that GL is a bad soap.

GL used to be, literally, unstoppable. At the top of the ratings and obviously one of the most interesting soaps around. When the Spauldings were powerful and the Santos were bickering, the ratings were fabulous. I miss those days, but these days- there are new storylines. GL is opening up a lot of potential and possibilities.

Phillip, Gus, and Harley are gone, yes. They did add a huge aspect to the show. So did the Santos. And Jonathan and Tammy- that was a very GOOD storyline, in my opinion, but the end result was tragic. The way that they now tape the show is horrible, but that doesn't affect the storylines. Taping is taping...nothing more, nothing less.

Now, for the good. Times change; unlike most soaps, GL has hosted a drastic change of events. It changed from the Spauldings to the Lewis' as the power hungry families. Jeffery and Reva are together, after the break of Reva and Josh's "unbreakable marriage." And although Harley and Gus are gone, Natalya and Rafe (in a matter, his legacy lives on) make up for some of it. I miss Harley, yes, and I miss the old Cassie. And I miss the old camera effects. I, however, do not miss the drama. That's because the drama is still there, just in a different way. I don't understand how you see this as something from reality TV, does it have something to do with the cameras/camcorders?

I like GL because it's true and it's a classic. Things change, people fall in love with enemies, and people die. GL is not "just a soap opera"- it is the reason for other soaps. It carved a path, an unbeatable one at that.

Answer 3

it true i miss phillip and tammy and the whole santos family but no show is bad that beth chamberlin,gina tognoni and kim zimmer are on  

Answer 4

They jumped it long ago. They dont have consistency in their story lines and have lost sight of their core families. Why is Philip still gone? Where did Alan Michael go? The Bauers are almost off screen entirely, an occasional peep at Rick and thats it. and how in the world did brain damaged,broke Dinah get enough money to topple Alan? Doesnt make sense. at all. and can we get rid of natalia,Rafes mom? what does she add to the cast?