Guiding Light (1952–2009)
"The Guiding Light" (original title)

Guiding Light takes place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield. In its early years the stories centered on the middle class Bauer family, but later the wealthy Spauldings, ... See full summary »

Creator:

Irna Phillips

Stars:

Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Lia Yang

99 wins & 418 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Kim Zimmer	...	Reva Shayne (590 episodes, 1983-2009)
Robert Newman	...	Joshua Lewis (552 episodes, 1981-2009)
Lia Yang	...	Susan (508 episodes, 1993-2007)
Ron Raines	...	Alan Spaulding (445 episodes, 1994-2009)
Beth Chamberlin	...	Lorelei Hills (440 episodes, 1989-2009)
Bradley Cole	...	Jeffrey O'Neill (396 episodes, 1999-2009)
Emme Rylan	...	Lizzie Spaulding (393 episodes, 2006-2009)
Justin Deas	...	Buzz Cooper (392 episodes, 1992-2009)
Frank Dicopoulos	...	Frank Cooper (390 episodes, 1987-2009)
Crystal Chappell	...	Olivia Spencer (378 episodes, 1999-2009)
Beth Ehlers	...	Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding Aitoro (376 episodes, 1987-2008)
Mandy Bruno	...	Marina Cooper (369 episodes, 2004-2009)
Gina Tognoni	...	Dinah Marler (368 episodes, 2004-2009)
Robert Bogue	...	A.C. Mallet (339 episodes, 2005-2009)
Nicole Forester	...	Cassie Winslow (299 episodes, 2005-2008)
Bonnie Dennison	...	Daisy Lemay (286 episodes, 2007-2009)
Michael O'Leary	...	Rick Bauer (278 episodes, 1983-2009)
Daniel Cosgrove	...	Bill Lewis (267 episodes, 2002-2009)
Jordan Clarke	...	Billy Lewis (260 episodes, 1983-2009)
Murray Bartlett	...	Cyrus Foley (257 episodes, 2007-2009)
Grant Aleksander	...	Phillip Granville Spaulding (254 episodes, 1983-2009)
Jessica Leccia	...	Natalia Rivera (247 episodes, 2007-2009)

Storyline

Guiding Light takes place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield. In its early years the stories centered on the middle class Bauer family, but later the wealthy Spauldings, Chamberlains, and Lewises, along with the working class Reardons and others, took their own places of prominence, though the Bauers remained the heart of the show.

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Plot Keywords:

1990s | 1980s | 1960s | 1970s | based on radio show | 

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Taglines:

Life happens here.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

CBS [us] Official GL Message Board [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guiding Light

Filming Locations:

CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP), RDF Television, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 15 min (1952-1968) 30 min (1968-1977) 60 min (1977-2009)

Sound Mix:

Mono (1952-1987) Stereo (1987-)

Color:

Color (1967-2009) Black and White (1952-1967)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Quotes

Dinah: Well, don't you want to hear my tale of woe?
Edmund: Dinah, I don't have time to hear it right now.
Dinah: Oh, okay. Well, just kick me to the kerb, like everybody else has. It's cool.
Edmund: Look, Dinah, I've been where you are, wanting to live someone else's life, willing to do just about anything to have it. It's no good. It doesn't work. My obsession with my brother Richard cost me everything I cared about. I hate to see you make the same mistake.
Dinah: My whole life's been a mistake, Eddie.
Edmund: It's not a mistake, Dinah....

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Connections

Referenced in Nip/Tuck: Momma Boone (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Die Springfield Story"
Written by Ralph Thiekötter & Maik Weppner
Courtesy of Heinz & Klaus Funk, Hamburg
(German version)

User Reviews

Why Don't They Bring Back Michael Bauer?

I've often wondered why the writers never think about bringing back Mike. After he left the show, it's as if he never existed. Now I realize the Bauers have less of a role on here now, but I've often wondered about Mike. The character that played him is still around, making commercials.

And, while I'm at it........why ARE the Bauers talked about less and less??? I know Michelle is gone away to make a life with Danny and the two children. Maureen has been dead for a looooong time. Ed is out and about. Rick? Hardly ever see him. Allan Michael is the only "tie" left (Mikes's grandson).