Thursday, April 16, 2009

GUIDING LIGHT Is On A Roll

GUIDING LIGHT is milking the Natalia and Frank wedding this week for all its worth and it's truly spectacular soap opera. The will she or won't she back and forth with Natalia is so well done that it takes my mind back to my favorite time on the show in the 1980s.

I have intentionally not asked what was going to happen and avoided spoilers about the wedding. The Olivia and Natalia story, more than a year in the making, is such a throwback that I've just wanted to enjoy every second of the build up. And enjoy it I have.

Continue reading... (spoilers from today included)


When Natalia finally, FINALLY, ran out of the church today, I was so happy. This wedding has played out over the course of the entire week and anticipation has grown every day about what will happen. The previews for tomorrow look like a huge payoff is coming to me. I will be over the moon if Olivia and Natalia decide to be together and crushed if she goes back to that church and marries Frank. The writing, production, acting have all come together and created this masterful story that I have become truly invested in.

The other nice thing about this week on GL is realizing how all the other stories are working so well right now too. We've had the exciting Reva/Edmund babynapping story, Dinah and Shayne bonding, some adorable Beth and Phillip moments and maybe best of all, Alexandra slapping Alan today in one of the funniest scenes I have watched in a very long time.

I also have to compliment the show for the realistic quality in which everything has been portrayed this week, especially the wedding. There are diehard fans of the three-camera/three-walled-sets format, but I don't think any of this would have been as interesting or "real" if the old format was used. GL is now playing to the strengths of their production model and I have nothing but praise for the show.

I hold out hope that the show will find a home on another network. It needs to happen. But whether it does or not, true soaps fans are doing themselves a disservice if they are not watching this week's episodes. If you need to get caught up, visit CBS.com.

RELATED:
- Keep GUIDING LIGHT on the air petition

29 comments:

  1. Today was pretty amazing. When you can hardly wait for "tomorrow" for weeks on end, you know Guiding Light is doing something right. Not just right, remarkable.

    I think my heart has been in my throat for the last few weeks!

    The rest of the show has been fantastic as well. We GL fans are supremely lucky right now. Thank you, Roger, for all your awesome coverage - especially the twitter updates, which get me through class. :)

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  2. You are so right, Roger. Guiding Light is the best show on daytime right now. Every soap fan should relish storytelling like GL is doing.

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  3. Definitely on a roll!! We get 5 days of Otalia!!!!
    This storyline has touched so many people because its not just a sweeps/rating grabber, its been building for over a year with all the twist and turns that make you want to tune it to see what happens. Also, its very believable. People do fall in love with people regardless of sex in the real world, but have families and other people to consider.

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  4. roger, you know i heart you big time. and though i can't read your full post yet (staying spoiler free until i see the show at 3PM today) i will say, you are so right, GL is so on a roll it's like buttah.

    wait, did i say that out loud? i can't drink wine...

    thanks for the coverage! now let's get this fantastic show on another, more appreciative network!

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  5. Roger, my hero, thank you for championing not only this storyline, but also GL... The production model has changed so much about how we see this story and I love it!!!

    I can't say enough nice things about the week, but I will say... I can not wait until tomorrow!!

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  6. You are so right Roger, anyone not watching this show is missing out! I happen to love the production model as well...it makes you feel like you are right there with them...lately it feels all I have been doing is crying with them (today tears of joy...YAY!)

    I can't get enough of this storyline and Guiding Light for that matter!

    Thanks again Roger...you rock!

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  7. I have yet to see today's episode but what I've seen of this week's Guiding Light makes me agree with you 100%. This show has an extremely naturalistic feel right now thanks to the new production model and the extremely authentic writing. And it works so well for Guiding Light cause the actors are so skilled that they can handle that authenticity, no need to throw outrageous storylines at them to make the show interesting.

    And Otalia simply sweeps me off my feet.

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  8. Oh how I heart you for this, Roger. And agree with you 100%. They are doing an amazing job with the writing and acting and I can't believe we're getting to see scenes like the ones we saw this week... Liv talking at Gus' grave, confessing to Natalia her love and Natalia finally running from the church.

    I'm an emotional wreck this week and it's all because of GL and I'm loving every second of it! God how I heart Crystal Chappell - her performance brought me to my knees it was so powerful. And Jessica Leccia ... OMG, this show just keeps getting more and more amazing!

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  9. Collins, GMTA! I almost titled this post, "GL Is Like Buttah, Cause It's On a Roll" LOL. I probably watched too many Stuart Scott/Rich Eisen Sportscenters in the late 90s.

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  10. Great write up Roger! This has been the most amazing, can't miss, my heart might actually stop week of watching television that I have ever experienced. GL has given us ANGST to the max this week with the Natalia and Frank wedding. You know a soap is doing something right when you absolutely will not miss one minute of one episode.

    I agree with you about the production model as well. It added an intimacy to the scenes that made me feel as if I were intruding on private moments or actually sitting in the church on the edge of my seat praying for someone or something to stop the wedding!

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  11. This week has had me so on the edge of my seat, that I feel like I've been eating, breathing Otalia non-stop. Yes, talk about the full-on love story, romantic treatment,and we'll be talking about this week for a very, very long time. Its been huge, epic and its been gut-wrenching. I've enjoyed ever minute of the entire show this week (needed me some breathing space, and needed some humor!). thanks Roger for continuing to cover GL and Otalia. We love you too!

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  12. Thanks so much Roger! What a great article and so so true. I am confident that GL will find a new home! Together we have already made a huge difference. All us Purple People are Rockin'! Keep up the great work Rog!

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  13. This week has been phenomenal! Crystal Chappell has always been an incredible actress, but she is giving the performance of a lifetime this week! Jessica Leccia is outstanding as are the writers! The rest of the show is awesome as well. Great cast! Guiding Light is worth saving!

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  14. You are the best, Roger! I'm in awe of the quality we're seeing on a daily basis on Guiding Light. Like you said, all the story lines are weaving together nicely. And the Otalia story line is the best written and acted story line on daytime.

    Ellen Wheeler, Jill Lorie Hurst, Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia are giving the fans a beautiful gift every day. They, and we, deserve to have Guiding Light continue in a new home. This has to happen.

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  15. Thanks, Roger. Your support of the show and Otalia has been wonderful.

    This week has covered all the angst, fun, and heartbreak, and joy of the show. Like many I loved Alexandra's slap on Alan. That she got him to sit up first before she hit him was priceless. Loving Beth/Phillip interactions.

    And Doris. Wow. How Orlagh's character has been fleshed out in the past couple months has been brilliant. Comedy genius with the fake phone call today to stall the wedding...as well as dropping big, huge anvils.

    Olivia: heartache, but shut up and actually listen when Natalia tells you she loves you. Crystal and Jessica have been hitting those scenes like crazy. It's beautiful to watch, even when it hurts like hell.

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  16. Today's episodes sounds like it is going to be great I can't wait to watch it. Guiding light is doing a great job portraying not only the otalia story but the other stories as well. Roger thank you so much for always supporting Guiding light and Otalia thanks and keep it up.

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  17. Roger! going with that theme, let's just say Doris is as cool as the other side of the pillow....

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  18. I completely agree with you. The actors, directors, and writers have done an outstanding job this week, but this filming method has really helped with the "realness" factor this week. Guiding Light, in general, is just doing a stellar job!

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  19. Roger, you hit the nail right on the head. Guiding Light is doing ABSOLUTELY everything right this week. Not a wasted second or a throw away scene. This team is firing on all cylinders with this new system in a way that makes it all seem so fresh while the writing and pacing is such a throwback to the very best of the genre.

    How in the world can it be that this show is in search of a new home? CBS oh what a mistake you've made!

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  20. I dont think I have been more nauseous in all my life than I have been this week. My stomach has just been in knots all week, wondering and hoping about how things are going to turn out. The writing has just been outstanding, and such attention to detail to everything. I dont even have enough words in my vocabulary to decribe the amazing acting by both Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia. Kudos all around at GL.

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  21. Roger, I couldn't agree with you more about the show and the production model. When the first thing you do at the end of the episode is look at the clock and think "how am I gonna make it through the next 23 hours?!", you know it's something special and amazing. As much as I love GL, the last times I can remember doing that are Roger/Holly in Acapulco and Annie/Josh/Reva at its peak. And even with both of those times, I never felt it as strongly as I have this week.

    JLH - just... nothing but awe and respect.

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  22. Roger!! thanks for stating so eloquently how we are all feeling right now!! I have never felt so much emotion from a television before! Physically I am drained after watching! Crystal, Jessica and Jill Hurst have created an unstoppable force with nary a mis-step along the way!! Each angsty moment has led us up to 2 beautiful & stunning declarations of love!! Every time you watch an episode you can't imagine the story can get any better, yet somehow they top themselves the very next show!! Now that they are going to be a couple, I am just going to hang on and enjoy the ride!!!

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  23. Beautifully said. Agree completely.

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  24. Roger, your work is amazing. Otalia, your story is C O N S U M I N G.........!!!!!!!!

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  25. It has been a truly amazing week for Otalia. And more to come tomorrow.

    Today was fantastic as a whole. The Alan slap was hilarious. I didn't expect that. I also love the Phillip/Beth moment. It was a natural and sweet moment.

    Great Stuff!

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  26. Guiding Light has been fantastic this week and really has been for the last few months. I don't remember the last time I was so excited to come home and watch the show. I can't imagine anyone not completely enjoying it this week.Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia are playing the hell out of their storyline.Having Doris there has been hilarious. Just wonderful soap!!

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  27. Great post Roger, and you are right. This week has been classic soapy love story stuffed with all the angsty goodness. There were moments this week where I sat staring dumbfounded at the screen, and moments where I was pacing across the floor screaming at my screen "TELL HER!!" or "SOMEONE STOP THE WEDDING" just to name a few. The production model is part of what I love, love so much about this show. I feel like I'm watching a play in one of those small basement theaters where you sit right against the stage. I feel like I'm there.

    The fact that this show is cancelled for a game show and another talk show makes me feel like I'm living in bizarro land.

    BTW...big hit this week: DORIS! I'm just loving that character right now.

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  28. Thank-you for the article Roger. The show has been amazing this week and my stress level has been through the roof with angsty anticipation. The performances of CC and JL are simply phenomenal! Oh and, I heart Doris, big time!!!

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  29. I haven't really watched a soap in almost 15 years but, I heard about this story line not to long ago and started watching. I have not been so excited to get home to see what's been going on on a soap since, believe it or not, Crystal Chappell was on Days of our Lives. She was a favorite then and she's a favorite now. It doesn't surprise me that she's still going strong in this business. A wonderful actress and willing to take on a story line that some actors would balk at.
    I wonder with the news of GL going off the air come Sept (though, hopefully, to a new home) if they'll just go all out like they would with 'hetro'sex scenes and the like. I think I'm gonna go ponder on that one for awhile...

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