|
The ''Guiding Light'' (GL) is the longest-running American soap opera. ==Show development== Claire Labine took over as head writer in 2000, but her stories focused on character development and reportedly clashed with Rauch's plot-heavy style. Labine's team lasted barely a year and she was replaced briefly by Lloyd Gold. Millee Taggart took the writing reins in 2002, and Taggart's run had some critical acclaim, breaking away from the organized crime and royalty which had dominated ''Guiding Light'' over the past few years. Taggart tried to focus on more traditional story lines, including Reva pulling the plug on a critically injured Richard in 2002. During this time, ''Guiding Light'' also tried to reinvigorate the role of Alexandra Spaulding by offering the role to ''Dynasty'' star Joan Collins. Not all of Taggart's stories were a hit; she also wrote a sequence in which Marah Lewis (Lindsey McKeon), reacting to a rape attempt from boyfriend Tony Santos (Jordi Vilasuso), stripped to her underwear and taunted him to force himself on her. In early 2003, veteran producer John Conboy and Ellen Weston took charge of the show. Weston had acted on ''Guiding Light'', and had been a writer with several prime-time movie credits as well as a brief writing stint on ''Capitol (TV series)''. She had never before been a head writer, however, for a soap. Conboy's first move was to relegate several veteran performers to recurring status, including Maureen Garrett, Beth Chamberlin and Elizabeth Keifer. As a result of many missteps in the show's production and writing, Conboy and Weston were eventually fired after only a year. Ellen Wheeler of ''Another World'' and ''All My Children'' fame became executive producer in the spring of 2004. Her regime addressed unresolved plots. Wheeler and writer David Kreizman won praise from viewers and critics at first. The serial won the Writers Guild of America Award for best written daytime serial in 2005 and the show was the only one nominated. But the show still seemed unfocused at times, ratings continued to stagnate and in early 2005, it was revealed that ''Procter & Gamble'' had ordered ''Guiding Light'' to take a large budget cut. The actors themselves would also see a reduction in salary, and long-time stars Michael O'Leary, Jerry verDorn, and Marj Dusay were taken off contract. (verDorn would ultimately decide to leave the show, and Ross Marler was killed off; Dusay and O'Leary remained on a recurring basis.) Nancy St. Alban, Doug Hutchinson, Paul Anthony Stewart and David Andrew MacDonald were fired as a result of the budget cuts. Stephen Martines asked for and was granted a release from his contract. Daniel Cosgrove, who played Bill Lewis since 2002 opted not to renew his contract and also left the show, but would return again in 2007 with a new three-year contract. As a result of being dropped to recurring, Jerry verDorn, the longest running actor and character (Ross Marler) on the show, quit and joined ABC's ''One Life to Live''. The show also learned that it would be moving to the old ''As the World Turns'' studios on the West Side of Manhattan (as opposed to their more lavish current studio on the East Side of the city). On November 14, 2005, ''Guiding Light'' had a show "make-over". In the new opening sequence, the first few scenes were presented in widescreen and then followed by a new opening theme song with new video clips, a new logo, and a new musical tune. Also, the show became downloadable at CBS.com later in the day as a podcast that can be listened to on iPods and other (portable) media players. This feature was promoted at the end of each show by various cast members who urge viewers to "take the ''Light''" with them. Around this time, ''Guiding Lights sets also changed considerably. Longtime sets such as Company, Josh and Reva Lewis's House, and Cedars Hospital received makeovers, and the Beacon Hotel lobby set was scrapped. Characters also started to live in the Beacon Hotel, rather than houses or apartments, even though they have been on the show for some time. In addition, ''Guiding Light'' also debuted new sets. The show added a new "Main Street" set which features an outdoor coffee bar (CO2 or Company 2) and a new theater. The Main Street set is being used quite frequently. ''Guiding Light'' also made over the Cross Creek cabin set and moved the cabin to Springfield for Josh and Reva. In March 2006, the producers attempted to get Michael O'Leary, Beth Chamberlin, and Elizabeth Keifer to return to contract status. All three turned the offer down, after they were only guaranteed one appearance each week. In June 2006, following his Emmy win, Jordan Clarke was upgraded to contract status. Around this same time, O'Leary ended up changing his mind and signed his own new contract with the show. In 2007, the show celebrated its 70th anniversary with two special episodes. The first episode aired on January 25, depicting the actors portraying many of the actors from the radio show and the early years of the television show. The second appeared on February 14, depicting the actors' trip to Biloxi, Mississippi to aid in rebuilding three homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The theme for the 70th anniversary, "Find Your Light", attempted to return the show to its roots of giving back to the community. Starting in January 2008, ''Guiding Light'' moved from the traditional multi-camera style of filming to hand-held digital cameras. All of the show's traditional sets were scuttled and new four-wall sets were erected in their place, as well as two new permanent outdoor filming locations in New Jersey. Executive producer Ellen Wheeler was quoted in the ''New York Post'' as saying that the show didn't feel real, and that the show's new production style would have a completely different and more realistic look. The production team chose to shoot with handheld Canon XH-G1 HDV camcorders, which allow producers to choose as many locations as they wish. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Guiding Light (2000–09)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|