GUIDING LIGHT Feature
Give These Actors a Job
— By Weekly staff
As GUIDING LIGHT's era continues to dim, many of its actors are looking for new ways to display their talents. In this expanded version of Weekly's feature in the GL tribute section of our Sept. 22 issue (on stands now), we offer several suggestions for how the soap's cast members can keep lighting up daytime.
 |
GL's Gina Tognoni and Jeff Branson (Dinah and Shayne)
|
Who: Grant Aleksander (Phillip)
Where: Aleksander's skill at portraying manipulative figures could take form in a savvy businessman who antagonizes DAYS OF OUR LIVES' EJ but woos Nicole.
Who: Jeff Branson (Shayne)
Where: Branson would fit best at ONE LIFE TO LIVE, where rage-filled villains mix with sensitive souls — and he could easily play either type.
Who: Beth Chamberlin (Beth)
Where: Chamberlin is perfect for Melanie — Lindsay's sister and Bo's ex on OLTL. Plastic surgeon Mel could mend the pieces of a shattered Clint if and when Bo and Nora get back together.
Who: Jordan Clarke (Billy)
Where: GENERAL HOSPITAL needs to lighten up, so how about Clarke as the hospital's new chief of staff, who has some ideas about the healing power of laughter?
Who: Zack Conroy (James)
Where: GL's newest find had an all-too-brief tenure in Springfield, but Conroy's talents at playing a spoiled scion could easily shift to Salem, where DAYS' Justin Kiriakis could use a rapidly aged son.
Who: Daniel Cosgrove (Bill)
Where: The effortlessly charming Cosgrove is tailor-made to follow in the footsteps of Nathan Fillion as OLTL's new Joey Buchanan.
 |
GL's Lawrence Saint-Victor and Yvonna Wright (Remy and Mel)
|
Who: Bonnie Dennison (Daisy)
Where: Dennison would be the perfect cure for what ails Drew Garrett's glowering, post-coma Michael on GH, or a ready partner for gentlemanly thug Johnny — especially if she stepped into the role of Serena Baldwin or Anna Donely.
Who: Marj Dusay (Alex)
Where: Dusay would be a riot on YOUNG AND RESTLESS as a former P.I. friend of Marge's.
Who: Liz Keifer (Blake)
Where: From the redheaded daughter of one soap legacy character to another, Keifer could make a fantastic Skye Chandler on ALL MY CHILDREN.
Who: Jessica Leccia (Natalia)
Where: It's time for the Santos family to return to AMC, and Leccia could be a wonderfully heartfelt, sincere Anita.
Who: Karla Mosley (Christina)
Where: Mosley has just the spirit to breathe life back into GH's Gia Campbell — and persuade Nikolas to give up the ghost of dead love, Emily.
Who: Robert Newman (Josh)
Where: AMC could use the old standby: a priest with a past. And, since Newman has played a minister in the past, he seems heaven-sent for Pine Valley.
Who: Michael O'Leary (Rick)
Where: Since BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL is heavy on hilarity, which has been O'Leary's forte, why not sign him up as the new Dr. Mark MacClaine, who could operate on Felicia's heart?
 |
GL's Zack Conroy (James)
|
Who: Ron Raines (Alan)
Where: Raines has the charisma to be completely intimidating as a previously unknown Cassadine on GH — one so dastardly he makes Helena look like a schoolgirl.
Who: Marcy Rylan (Lizzie)
Where: Rylan's comedic talent and blonde beauty would fit the wacky fashionistas at B&B's Forrester Creations like a glove. It might just be time to age Thorne and Darla's daughter Alexandria for the family business.
Who: Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy)
Where: As a new resident at Salem University Hospital, Saint-Victor could turn several DAYS ladies' heads. Or perhaps it's time for another strapping Carver man to hit town.
Who: Gina Tognoni (Dinah)
Where: Fan speculation has Tognoni returning to her OLTL roots as Kelly. While that would be great, how about transplanting her to Port Charles as GH's fiery Brenda?
Who: Yvonna Wright (Mel)
Where: Wright could give B&B's Det. Charlie Baker a love interest as a new lawyer in town, while the Forresters and Jackie M staff battle for her character's legal services.
Who: Kim Zimmer (Reva)
Where: How about a long-lost female Buchanan on OLTL? Zimmer could bust up the men's club like no one else!
RELATED RESOURCES
For ATWT: Love interest for Colleen Pinter's Barbara in the form of either Ron Raines, Robert Newman or Bradley Cole. But I'm leaning toward Raines as a never before mentioned Stenbeck wooing Babs. Jeff Branson & Gina Tognoni as slightly aged Will & Gwen recasts. Or, picture Tognoni (as a new character or taking over Annie Parisse's Julia) and Maura West sharing scenes as rivals (delicious)! For B&B: Justin Deas as Eric's long lost brother who comes to town with a chip on his shoulder. Or as Nick's father. Grant Aleksander as a love interest for Taylor. Branson or Danny Cosgrove as a love interest for the rarely seen Felicia. For Y&R: Marj Dusay as Jill's real mother (picture the scenes between her and Jeanne Cooper's Kay)! Tina Sloan as Mary Williams.
I am 81 and counting. I have been on board since the beginning and always thought that when I would leave this earth I would ask for time out so I could watch my Guiding Light. Now , I promise you the day the Light goes out for the Guiding Light, I will not watch any other Soap nor read magazines with soap info. My TV set will be turned off except for the quiz shows. Thank Goodness I have my Book Copies of As The World Turns and Guiding Light. I wish them all the best. Don't Give Up On the Guiding Light. Best Wishes to all and I will miss them.
I dread the end of Guiding Light. I have kept past shows on my DVR and will continue to rewatch them. I will not watch any show that takes over GL's time slot. I am hopeful that all of the great actors on GL will join other soaps. I only hope I can get to see them all in Pgh. I have exercised watching GL for years. It will be a struggle to get on that tread mill once this show is over and my DVR has to eventually erase these shows. Best wishes to everyone associated with GL and the remaining CBS soaps. I will try to attend any of the GL actors other performances as I have with Robert Newman and Tom Pelfrey. I just hope I will be able to find where they will be performing. I do subscribe to CBS Soaps and Soap Opera Digest. P.S. I still can't figure out how the ratings are determined???
Have GL's on VCR tapes from 1992, 93 & 94. Watched them some this weekend. Will keep them 4ever so as not to lose my "family". I have loved this show since I was 8 years old (45 years!!!). I have no idea how I can celebrate holidays without the Bauers. No Bauer bbq? That's unthinkable! No Allan deviousness? No Billy making me laugh? No Jonathan to look at? No Lizzy to love? I want to see Henry & Collin & Sarah grow up...I just don't want to say good-bye.
I have dropped my subscription to your publication because you never really have done enough to save this show--or others. The nearly constant berating of soaps (one columnist in particular) have had a detrimental affect. So many efforts could have been promoted, so 64 year-olds do not have to miss this part of our history.
I cannot believe GL is going to end. I will never forget all of Reva's weddings, every Bauer BBQ and the teenage friendships Phillip, Beth, Mindy and Rick had. They were my friends too!!! It seems like a part of my will be gone when the light is finally blown out. I wish there was something I could do to keep it on the air. I LOVE GL!!!
I am down to one soap now. GL has been my on and off soap for many moons. I love Reva then and now... I also love Jonathan who was perfectly geneticly linked to Reva (good job writers). I don't know what I'm going to do without GL. I hope to see some of them in my other SOAP! I know one will be. Wishing all the cast members of GL much success and you can't say it enough... YOU WILL BE MISSED!!! THANX
when i heard that GL was going to end i was blown away,, i have watched this soap for many years,, and my mother listen to it when it was first on the radio, so she has followed it all these years.... YOU ALL WILL BE MISSED DEARLY!! WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST....
As a toddler, I was put in the playpen in front of Guiding Light, while my mother cleaned the house. (Not politically correct, but it was the 70s) For a shy, insecure girl, Guiding Light gave me a group of friends to watch every afternoon, after school. I saw amazing actors tell outrageous as well as realistic stories. I wanted to grow up and be just as strong and loud as Reva, Alex, Vanessa, Nola, Nadine... For an adult, it gave me memories of watching the show with my grandmother and mother. Though I work full-time, GL has always been the one soap I keep in touch with, and when I heard that it was going off the air, I was shocked. 72 years of history and family gone. As many others have said, I am done with soap operas after September 18th. Good luck to the wonderful cast and crew of my GL family. In my heart, your characters are still going on.
This is the only soap I watched. Now none. I know this is a TV show but it has been a part of my life for 35 years. I can not imagine coming home from work and not watching whats happening in Springfield. I loved the four musketeers, the trips to Laurel Falls and Bauer BBQs. They made me laugh. Another one of my favorites was Bethany Joy Lenz and Paul Anthony Stewart in the beginning. I have been watching YouTube:Manny#1. They all come up. What awesome memories. The acting and story lines. Today Danny and Michelle came home. I want to see more. The only way I would watch another soap is if they added the entire Bauer family into the show. Continuing the stories. I hope in time someone will continue the New Guiding Light. New writers. Different ideas. Sounds good to me. A girl can dream. They are ending the show with awesome stories to continue with. The possibilities are endless. I AM GOING TO MISS GUIDING LIGHT SO MUCH. All of you are awesome actors and I wish you the best. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
I have watched the guiding light for as long as I can remember. I am so so sad to see you go, its been a part of my live everyday. feels like someone has died. I keep hoping for it to come back, best of luck to you all..
I have watched GL since it was 15 minutes and followed Search for Tomorrow. I grew up with this show and can never begin to tell you how much I will miss GL. These people are family. Blessings on all of them .......I will miss you...
CBS has made a HUGH mastake of taking GUILDING LIGHT off,after,75 years. What a show it was. I can still remember when Reva called her self SLUT OF SPRINGFIELD. What a eposode. My sister got me hooked when I was 7 years old and now I'm 42. I can still REMEMBER when KEVIN BACON WAS ED'S nephew with a drinking problem. The 4 musketeers,BETH and PHILLIP AND RICK,and MINDY were the BEST. When the story of Phillip finding out he was adopted was outstanding . GUILDING LIGHT we WILL MISS YOU------------------
I agree with the other lady who posted saying Soap Opera Disgest did nothing to rally around the effort to save Guiding Light. I too have watched since I was a little girl and I'm now 51 and will miss watching it after work to unwind. I've taped it for years just so I could keep up with all the story lines, and like lots of others I stayed loyal to the show even when things got a little shaky or far fetched. That's how Guiding Light fans are, loyal, knowing that it would always get back to it's old self. It will be missed greatly. What a loss.
I have watched this show all my life, when I got out of school everyday, I would watch this show with my grandmother. I feel like everyone in Springfield is my family. I always thought that when my grandma died, I would still be watching Reva Shayne chase "Bud" or the other way around. I don't think I can continue to watch another show. One of my family members has passed away, I now will go into Mourning.
I'm the sadest, i've ever been.Guiding Light going off air,is wrong. Since friday,9-18-09, i've felt like there was a death in the family. Come the following monday, i couldn't ever turn my tv on. My sister,(Diana) & I,have grown up with this show, i remember racing her home, just to watch guiding light with her. And we were, 12 & 9 yrs.old. Now we are 43 & 40 yrs old.,This is so sad. So, when the show would have came on at three my time, i just go outside, and keep all my tv's off. My whole family watches this soap,that's my aunts,that is. my aunt linda cantu, calls me all the time, asking, did you believe what just happened, or does she look pregnant? Or that damn Alan is being dirty again. WHAT IS CBS THINKING? I WAS SO HOPING, COME 09/18/09,THAT THIS WAS ALL A HORRIBLE JOKE.,AND THE SOAP WOULD BE BACK ON AS SCHEDULED. DID I MENTION,OUR MOTHER,BARB WILT GOT US STARTED WATCHING THE GUIDING LIGHT. SHE STARTED, WHEN IT WAS ON THE RADIO. I THINK THE YOUNG GENERATION OF (G.L) SHOULD
I have been watching Guiding for about 25 years. Monday was tough. I made my coffee and sat on the couch only to remember... no Guiding... not today, not ever! Thank goodness for Fancast. Watch it there. Old Guiding is better than no Guiding..
I also will miss GL, but I'm not sure why some readers are blaming your mag, and Carolyn Hinsey in particular. The only ones to blame are the TV execs who made the decision to pull the plug. Grow up, people!
I am another GL fan that is giving up on soap operas. I have tried to watch Y&R for the last 2 weeks and it doesn't compare to GL by any means. The last month of GL was the best - tying up lose ends, bringing everyone home to Springfield (except Jeffrey, Dinah, and Mallet), and showing the love everyone had for each other in that wonderful town. I have been watching my tapes again and I am canceling my subscription to your magazine. I may watch ATWT to see Tom Pelphrey or check out Days to see Crystal Chappell but other than that I won't bother taping the shows everyday like I did Guiding Light for the last 15 years. Best wishes to all of the cast members. You will be surely missed.
I miss Guiding Light so very much! I will never understand how CBS could cancel this beloved soap. I only hope that these talented actors and actresses will find jobs on other soaps. I would love to see Jeff Branson and Gina Tolegni on "As The World Turns" as the new Will and Gwen. As The World Turns is the only soap that I will still watch. It would also be great to see the awesome Kim Zimmer on World Turns so she can reunite with her onscreen son Jonathon!! To all the people at "Guiding Light," we love you and miss you very much. The "Light" will live on in my heart!!
I haven't watched any soap since GL went off the air, but I would watch Bradley Cole on another soap. He has been my favorite actor for years.
Tuesday Oct.27th,5:30 PM.By Kristine Joseph I have truly been sad about this. I to have grown up with these people and yes, I feel like a part of me has died. Yes I know this is a T.V. show, but I felt a sense of warmth and like I really knew all of the cast as if they were great friends or family. I pray that by some miracle we could have a continuation of this show. Anything is possible, right? If any of the cast go on to other shows, it will not be the same as if they were all together again. Thank-U all for all the memories that you blessed us with.I am sure you will all land somewhere else wonderful. May God Bless you all. Truly Kristine
I MISS GUIDING LIGHT SO BAD !!!!! I CANT STAND IT. THIS IS SO NOT RIGHT. I watched a recorded episode and could not beleive they canceled the show. It was so great. I have not had CBS on since Sept. 18. As I read I am not the only one. I hope they understand how much Guiding Light has meant to all of us. Regarding canceling the subscription...if there isn't anything in them about Guiding Light why get them? Cancel Guiding Light-cancel subscriptions. NOTHING GOOD TO READ IN THEM.
Add Comment