As expected, Televest has finally announced that they have exhausted all options to find GL a new home after CBS summarily kicked the daytime legend to the curb on April Fool's Day. Which means the final countdown of shows can begin in earnest. And while I am loving the new stories, and the surprise visitors to Springfield, there is a part of me that can't bear to think about September 21st - the first weekday without GL....
While the news was not unexpected, I appreciate that the show finally told fans what I have unofficially known for a few weeks - that the show will go dark September 18th. I am proud of all of the fans that have written and called to support the efforts to save the show. I just wish we had a little more support from a network who was willing to take a chance on 2+ million fans tuning in to watch a long-established show.
But the more I analyze my own feelings on the show's departure, I see a lot of parallels. This week Reva was overwrought with emotion at Jeffrey's memorial service. Then she learned that Jeffrey told Josh about his leaving and the desire to spend a perfect day with Reva and Colin. Which fanned the flames of that Shayne temper even more. And I have to admit that I would feel very much the same way. There are always times when a family member or friend is trying to sugar coat things to make you feel better. My own husband, right now, is visiting friends in Honduras - hardly the safest place in the world. I could have gone, but didn't want to make the trip even during relative peaceful times. So now with news reports talking about the unrest there, I have to rely on sporadic text messages until he returns on Tuesday. Will I ever learn the whole truth about the dangers there? Probably not. Am I mad as hell that long after he made plans for this trip, the political situation changed which made my own unease about the trip raise tenfold. You bet I am....
And Phillip is determined to keep his illness from family and friends. For how long? Until the end? Suppose GL had tried to do that with the fans? As angry and hurt as I am now, I can imagine what we would have felt without the chance to say goodbye, to appreciate the show we all love and the characters who bring Springfield to live. So while I am sad at the impending loss, I am thankful for the chance to say goodbye...
We learned this week that more former GL'ers are coming back to town - including Morgan England (the original Dylan) and Melissa Hayden (Bridget Reardon). No word on if Bridget and Hart's son Peter will return as well. And Lisa Brown (Nola) one of my favorites, is also set to return. Since the show is only taping for another 2 weeks or so, I'm sure most of the casting is set - but who would YOU like to see return before the show ends?
I have to admit my wish list really took shape on vacation - when I had a 12 hour card ride ahead of me. While I would love to see the actors who have passed away (like Charita Bauer , Michael Zaslow, Larry Gates, William Roderick, etc.) there are some definite possibilities out there that GL should (and hopefully did) look into.
With Phillip's illness, I would LOVE to see Tom O'Rourke return as Justin Marler (Phillip's biological dad). Of course, thanks to GL for letting him go, Jerry verDorn is now on OLTL and probably couldn't do a return appearance. The same for Beth Ehlers and even a ghostly form of Ricky Paull Goldin to help Natalia deal with her pregnancy and relationship with Olivia.
But I would love to see GL welcome back some of their more famous alums: Kevin Bacon (I would probably faint - he was on GL not long after I started watching), James Earl Jones, Melina Kanakaredes, Michelle Forbes, John Wesley Shipp, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and of course, Cynthia Watros. Wouldn't that be a hoot for her to return to Springfield to face Alan one last time? Surely someone at GL has thought of this. I saw one very creative fan who has written dialogue for the scheming Annie Dutton to bring her back to Springfield and all of those who "did her wrong" - in her mind, at least...
It is fun to think about what still can happen, without getting overly emotional (just yet) and how things will wrap up. Feel free to share your ideas with me at [email protected] I'll try to post some of them here in the coming weeks.
This coming week, we have a return engagement so to speak. As Friday's show ended, we see a tall, thin, dark-haired man struggling to walk out of a jungle. Whoever could it be ; ) Was Reva right all along? But will Jeffrey make it home, or will Edmund finish his mission to eliminate his rival?
And Dinah still owes Shayne an answer and explanation about her big "no" to his romantic proposal. Will she spill the beans about her murdering John Doe? Or will Matt help keep her quiet? Dinah comes to a conclusion this week that will make their fans very happy....
Speaking of happy couples, Lizzie and Bill return home to find Phillip's wedding gift. How will they react? Personally I love the house - definitely the style I would want - even if it is a "fixer upper". But I probably would like to pick it out myself....
Some of the actors have posted comments, mainly to their web pages and/or Facebook pages. Marj Dusay left a message for her group members at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47576476355&ref=ts I encourage GL fans to find out if their favorites have fan clubs and/or Facebook groups now so we can all stay in touch after the show goes dark.
In the next few weeks, before the actors depart, I really want to take some time to reach out to them and let them know how much their characters, and the show, have meant to me. I certainly encourage all GL fans to drop the cast (either as a group or individually) a line to share your thoughts and memories with them.
To write to the cast members:
Guiding Light
c/o CBS
Attention: Star's Name Here
51 W. 52 St.
New York, NY 10019
In addition, fans in the NY area can see some of the cast at a panel at the Paley Center for Media on August 19th (unfortunately during the week or I would gladly attend): http://www.paleycenter.org/summer-2009-guiding-light If anyone attends, please let me know and I will gladly share your experiences here.
Now that we know how the show, if not the story ends, it is important for all of us to stay focused on working to promote the show in a positive light for as long as we can...
Together We Can...Keep the Light Shining!
Kimberly
