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Guiding Light

Original title: The Guiding Light
  • TV Series
  • 1952–2009
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,878
579
Guiding Light (1952)
Soap OperaDramaRomance

This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.

  • Creators
    • Irna Phillips
    • Thomas J. Bornkamp
  • Stars
    • Bernie Grant
    • Ed Bryce
    • Lynne Adams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,878
    579
    • Creators
      • Irna Phillips
      • Thomas J. Bornkamp
    • Stars
      • Bernie Grant
      • Ed Bryce
      • Lynne Adams
    • 32User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 106 wins & 453 nominations total

    Episodes10543

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Bernie Grant
    • Dr. Paul Fletcher…
    • 1956–1970
    Ed Bryce
    • Bill Bauer
    • 1959–1983
    Lynne Adams
    • Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris Bauer, R. N.…
    • 1966–1976
    Kay Campbell
    • Helene Benedict
    • 1957–1964
    Kim Zimmer
    Kim Zimmer
    • Reva Shayne…
    • 1983–2009
    Beth Chamberlin
    Beth Chamberlin
    • Beth Raines…
    • 1989–2009
    Barnard Hughes
    Barnard Hughes
    • Dr. Bruce Banning
    • 1961–1966
    Chase Crosley
    • Jane Fletcher Hayes, R. N.
    • 1963–1968
    John Boruff
    • Henry Benedict
    • 1962–1966
    Les Damon
    Les Damon
    • Bruce Banning
    • 1956–1960
    Michael Allen
    • Michael 'Mike' Bauer
    • 1958–1962
    Anthony D. Call
    • Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Werner…
    • 1972–1976
    Jeanne Arnold
    Jeanne Arnold
    • Ellen Mason
    • 1969–1973
    Robert Gentry
    Robert Gentry
    • Dr. Ed Bauer…
    • 1966–1998
    Maureen Garrett
    Maureen Garrett
    • Holly Norris…
    • 1976–2009
    Curt Dawson
    • Peter Chapman…
    • 1977–1980
    Sandra Smith
    Sandra Smith
    • Julie Conrad Bauer
    • 1962–1965
    Cecelia Walker
    • Laura Sarah Marler Bauer
    • 1981–1992
    • Creators
      • Irna Phillips
      • Thomas J. Bornkamp
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.62K
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    Featured reviews

    ken-138

    Hooked for 10 years

    I haven't seen every soap, but from what I have seen, this one can claim the best acting talent around. It's too bad Cynthia Watros (Annie) and Wendy Moniz (Dinah) had to go, They're both gifted actresses. Grant Aleksander (Philip) probably can claim best actor presently. Fortunately, the great cast makes up for some of the plot lines, e.g. Michael the angel, the bizarre cloning of Reva, and now Hart is in this metaphorical fight for life. It'll take a week to decide his fate. Pity the punching bag.
    rjcoll

    Guiding Light

    I have watched Guiding Light for 45 years. My mother started watching when it first started. The story lines have been great. Between Reva and Joshua's ups and downs. I hope they find their way back to each other. It would be great if you could bring back Danny and Michelle. Michelle is a great asset to the show. Also, Ed Bauer added a great touch to the show. Jonathan and Tammy belong to each other. I was glad you finally put them together. Sandy needs to move on. As far as Alan Michael coming back, I find it very strange that he is making moves on Marina, when he was married to her mother years ago. Not a good move. Please writers, keep the show going. I don't want another talk show in the on daytime TV.
    so_marvelous

    comment on show

    I have watched Guiding Light long enough to know that Kim Zimmer is the most talented actress there is on tv. She is awesome in that she draws viewers into her performance and makes them feel what the character Reva Shayne is feeling. The show is one of the best of all time, the writing is unique and centers around long time Springfield families. Guiding Light is the longest running daytime drama and I think that says a lot about the quality of the show. With actors and actresses like Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Beth Ehlers, Grant Alexander, Jerry ver Dorn and plenty others, the show has just what it needs to be successful for many more years to come!
    Rick-135

    A great soap:

    I admit,I do not care for the way Paul Rauch runs this show nowadays but through-out the 80's and well into the 90's,Guiding Light was the best daytime drama out there. The 4 musketeers (Mindy,Rick,Phillip and Beth) were by far some of the best characters ever. I miss the character of Mindy Lewis played by either Krista Tesreau or Kimberley Simms and GREAT actors like Beverley McKinsey (Alex) and Michael Zaslow (Roger) and soon the very talented Wendy Monez (Dinah) will be leaving,so sad. However many great actors still remain with the show like Michael O'Leary (Rick),Grant Aleksander (Phillip),Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa) and Mary Kay Adams (India) so for the the enjoyment of watching these great actors and a few others,Guiding Light still shines (only not as bright)
    kerpptd

    I miss Philip

    Grant's portrayal of Phillip over the years was great. I am still holding my breath for the day he come's back to Guiding Light. I know that GL cut a lot of the best cast members last year, but I hope they didn't cut out us fans of the best actors who portrayed not only Phillip Spaulding, but Ross Marler and the cutting back of Rick Bauer, Holly and Blake. Please come back Phillip- I have been a fan of Guiding Light since before you and Rick came back from boarding school and Rick changed his name. Grant, you are greatly missed, as is the character you portrayed, it is not just my hope, but that of my mother's and sister's that you come back soon. You are fondly missed, and we can't wait till you walk into the board room of Spaulding, unannounced and get into it with Allen. The story line for your return could be the best GL has had in years.

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    Related interests

    Marsha Clark, Alison Sweeney, and James Scott in Days of Our Lives (1965)
    Soap Opera
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many episodes of this show and other daytime television shows are believed to be lost forever. It was live until the 1960s, and many prior episodes exist as kinescopes (videotape was not invented until 1956). Procter & Gamble Productions did not begin archiving its shows until the late 1970s, believing there was no use for them after their initial airing. The original tapes were re-used.
    • Quotes

      Rick: I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant! Well, I'm not. My wife is. I'm just overweight.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 25th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Die Springfield Story
      Written by Ralph Thiekötter & Maik Weppner

      Courtesy of Heinz & Klaus Funk, Hamburg

      (German version)

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does Guiding Light have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 30, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • CBS (United States)
      • Official GL Message Board (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Springfield Story
    • Filming locations
      • Springfield Township, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)
      • RDF Television
      • TeleNext Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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