Final Episode of Guiding Light: Yep, It Still Sucks

Tonight's blog is being co-authored by my husband, APY. Due to his interest in video production and my disdain for crappy television, we both found ourselves riveted by the final episode of "Guiding Light" this week. We could not stop talking about how bad it was, so we decided to share our thoughts with the world.

CC (cyberchick): First of all, let's just say that while I am no video production expert, I was appalled by how this show is now shot and produced. Guiding Light had the production qualities of a mediocre porno, and that is not a compliment.

APY (husband): It looked my "video trip with music" that I edited for a college class back in '97.

CC: When you watch a soap opera, you know the acting sucks, but it is at least somewhat concealed by the hazy film over the camera shot. The people all look beautiful and Springfield becomes some magical far-away place. But the new Guiding Light (they changed the cameras, set, etc. in February 2008) looks like nice home video with terrible acting. Also everyone has gained weight and gotten older and the reality show look is really unflattering. I do believe the make-up and wardrobe budgets were slashed along with the production costs.

APY: Reality shows look much better than this. The "haze" was always the charm for soap operas, as I know from my experience with my parents' (yeah, both of them) obsession with "All My Children" for the last 35 years. I grew up watching soap operas every day. Yes, it is clear that GL's budget was slashed. Instead of using expensive studio cameras, GL has been using this crap for the last year or so. This camera is good for many uses, but not for a daily network show. I could trade in one of my cameras (from work) and get about six of these suckers.

CC: And can we at least touch on the story lines? Reva was apparently hesitant to marry Josh. She really had to mull it over. This despite the fact they have been married three times before. Also Josh cloned her when she died (before she came back from the dead) so he must have really loved her. I have not watched GL in years yet I recognized most of the characters (except for the young kids). And I just couldn't get interested in a single plot I saw here tonight.

APY: I didn't realize there was a story line in the show's finale. I was too caught up in the crappy production.

CC: Incidentally I saw Alan Spaulding in a Broadway concert in Omaha last week and he was really good! But thank goodness we have a DVR because it was almost torture to sit through that final episode, especially considering I haven't watched since college. As bad as it was, it's a little sad to say goodbye to GL. I will always remember my mom's favorite GL nightshirt. Also, one of her best stories was how she had to stop watching (temporarily) when at six years old I asked her what in-vitro fertilization was.

APY: Incidents like this did not stop my parents from watching "All My Children." I have vivid memories of seeing passionate love scenes as a child. I guess I turned out all right.

CC: That's just gross.

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