Guiding Light

:

Season 53
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 30, 1952
Season #: 72, 71, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Guiding Light Image
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 0 Critic Reviews

User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Be the first to review!

Summary: The late soap journalist Christopher Schemering once wrote that soap operas are not just dramas; "they're little pockets of American history." So it's only fitting to consider that at one time, "The Guiding Light,"-the longest running program in broadcast history, spanning 71 years-- brought fifteen-minute bits of escapism to war-weary housewives, as their men trudged off to fight the indignities of WWII. It brought social awareness to a nation that began to think about the big picture beyond their picket fences and suburban streets. Soap opera is a truly dynamic genre that reflects life as it is lived, the quintessential American art form. Although berated and belittled, the soap opera has an illustrious lineage, with no less than the books of Charles Dickins as an inspiration. Created by the legendary, if not iron-fisted Irna Phillips, "The Guiding Light" began its life on January 25, 1937. Originally, the show focused on the Chicagoan suburb of Five Points, a bustling enclave of German-Jewish immigrants hoping to find their own piece of the American dream. Giving them the hope and inspiration they needed was a kindly minister named Reverend John Ruthledge (voiced by Arthur Peterson of "Soap" fame). The Reverend's sermons of hope and forgiveness made such an impression that a bestselling book was published of his most popular homilies. The Reverend's message could be summed up by his favorite mantra from Edwin Markum "There is a destiny that makes us brothers, none goes his way alone, all that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own." On the desk near his window, the minister placed an old lantern, a "guiding light" to those parishioners passing in the cold, hopeless night. In the 1940's the Reverend Ruthledge enrolled as a chaplain to do his part of the war effort. However, when the production of the show moved to the west coast, Peterson refused to join them, so Irna Phillips had the minister die when his plane was shot down overseas. His "friendship lamp" went too with the production move to the town of Selby Flats, California. Reverend Matthews took over for the late Rev. Ruthledge as the center of hope and inspiration. However, by the time that the show was slated to move to television, the religious undertones of the show were virtually gone and the focus was moved yet again to the family Bauer. * Guiding Light was cancelled on April 1, 2009 and the last episode aired on September 18, 2009.

Details

Network: CBS
Genre(s): Drama
Seasons: 72, 71, 58, 57, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Cast Credit
Danielle Harris Michelle Bauer
Mark Pinter Mark Evans (1981 - 1983)/ Brad Green [#2] (2003 - 2004)
Gil Rogers Hawk Shayne (1985-1992, 1995-1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Daniel Cosgrove Harlan 'Bill' Lewis III [3] (2002-2005; 2007-2009)
Grant Aleksander Phillip Spaulding [#2+#4] (Jun 1982 - Dec 1984; Jan 1987 - Feb 1991; May 1996 - Nov 2004)
Marj Dusay Alexandra Spaulding [2+4] (9/93-3/25/97; 11/98-2/99; 12/26/02-2009)
Ricky Paull Goldin Gus Aitoro (Aka Nick Augustino) (2001 - 08)
Linda Dano Lena Kendall (2005)
Beth Ehlers Harley Davidson Cooper Spaulding Mallet Spaulding [1] (1987 - 93; 97 - 08)
Stephanie Gatschet Tammy Layne Winslow
Josh Taylor Quinton 'Quint' McCord Chamberlain (Aka Sean Ryan) [#2] (1997)
John Driscoll Henry Cooper "Coop" Bradshaw (9/2/04 - 2/17/2009)
Crystal Chappell Olivia Spencer
Yvonna Wright Melissande 'Mel' Boudreau Bauer (Sept 20, 2001-2009; Rec.)
Wesley A. Ramsey Sam Spencer (2000 - 2002; 2003; 2004)
Robert Bogue Anthony Camaletti (Aka A. C.) Mallet (4/15/2005-9/2009)
Kathryn Hays Leslie Jackson (1971)
Justin Deas Frank 'Buzz' Cooper Sr. (2/1993 - 9/2009)
Courtney Simon Dinah Buckley (1970-1971)
John Fiore Vinny Salerno (2003 - 04)
Daniel Von Bargen Joe Morrison (1993)
Tonja Walker Marie Green (2003 - 2004)
Russ Anderson Dr. Christopher Langham (Jun 6, 2003 - 2004 )
Keith Charles Alex McDaniels (1976 )/Frank Nelson (1981)/Brandon Spaulding [#3] (1984)
Elizabeth Keifer Christina 'Blake' Thorpe Spaulding Marler (1992 - Present; Rec.)
Jerry verDorn Ross Marler (1979 - 2005)
Gina Tognoni Dinah Marler [4] (7/7/04 - 9/18/09)
Crystal Hunt Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Spaulding [4] (2/25/03 - 1/31/06)
Stephen Martines Antonio 'Tony' Santos [2] (10/15/03 - 4/25/05)
Kurt McKinney Matt Reardon (1994 - 2000; 2005)
Laura Wright Cassandra "Cassie" Layne Winslow (Aug 1, 1997 - Present; Contract)
Jeffrey Scaperrotta Kevin Marler [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
David Fonteno Dr. Charles Grant (1995 - )
Robert Newman Joshua 'Josh' Lewis (Oct 1981-Dec 1984; Oct 1986-Jan 1991; Aug 1993-Sept 2009)
Kim Zimmer Reva Shayne
Margaret Gweneviere Dr. Margaret Sedwick (1979 - Present; Occ. Rec.)
Nicholas Art Alan 'Zachary' Cooper Spaulding [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
Marty West Shayne Joshua Lewis [5] (2/14/03 - 8/04)
Lindsey McKeon Marah Lewis [#5] (11/6/01 - 4/16/04)
Tom Pelphrey Jonathan "JB" Randall (9/2/04-2/1/07; 7/31/07-8/2/07; 1/23/08-3/6/08; 8/5/09-9/18/09)
Carrie Nye Susan Piper (1984) / Carrie Carruthers (2003 - 2004)
Beth Chamberlin Beth Raines Bauer Spaulding Lemay Winslow (Aka Lorelei Hills) [2] (1989 - 1991; 1997 - Present; Rec.)
Ron Raines Alan Spaulding [3] (7/1994-7/15/2009)
Maureen Garrett Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe Lindsay Reade [2] (1976 - 1980; 1988 - Present; Rec. )
Ellen Parker Maureen Reardon Bauer (1986 - 1993; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2004)
Paul Anthony Stewart Danny Santos
Michael O'Leary Frederick 'Rick' Bauer (1983 - 91; 95 - Present)
Mandy Bruno Marina Cooper [5] (5/2004-9/2009)
David Andrew MacDonald Edmund Winslow (7/8/99-11/10/05; 1/19 - 20/06; 10/14/07-12/28/07; 1/23/09-9/17/09)
Doug Hutchison Sebastian Hulce (Sept 2004 - Present)
Aubrey Dollar Marina Nadine Cooper [#3] (2001 - 2004)
Jordan Clarke Harlan 'Billy' Lewis II (1983-1987; 1989-1994; 1996; 1999-2009; Rec. )/Dr. Tim Ryan (1974-1976)
Maeve Kinkead Vanessa Chamberlain Lewis Reardon (6/1980-8/1981; 2/1982-1987; 7/1989-7/2000; 6/2002; 4-5/2005; 2/2006-9/2009)
Frank Dicopoulos Frank Achilles Cooper Jr. (10/31/1987 - 9/2009)
Miles Williams Roger Joshua "R.J." Winslow [Child] (2004 - Present; Rec.)
Peter Simon Dr. William Edward "Ed" Bauer (1981 - 1984; 1986 - 1996; 2002 - 2004)
Mart Hulswit Ed Bauer (1969 - 1981)
Jim Davidson Alonzo Baptiste
Nancy St. Alban Michelle Bauer Santos [4] (10/2000-11/2005, 07/2009 - 09/2009)
Deborah Zoe Eden August [2] (Sept 30, 2003 - 2004)
Bradley Cole Richard Winslow (1999-2003)/ Jeffrey O'Neill (2003-2009)
Ty Simpkins Jude Cooper Bauer [Child] (2001 - Present)
Orlagh Cassidy Doris Wolfe (5/1998-9/2009)
Tina Sloan Lillian Raines (1983-2009)
George Alvarez Father Ray Santos [2] (3/30/1999-2007; 2008-2009; Rec.)
Scott Bailey Sandy Foster (3/03 - 3/06)
Leslie Denniston Maeve Stoddard Sampson Reade (1985 - 1988)
Ed Penn Gordon Matthews (1986)
Kimi Parks Dorie Smith Von Halkein [Child] (1986 - 1987)
Irna St. Paul Ya Ya Andros (1992 - 1994)
Sophie Hayden Lucia Renaldi (Aka Regina Tessori) (2003)
Kim Brockington Felicia Boudreau [2] (11/6/02 - Present)
Garrett Stevens Shayne Lewis [#2] [Child] (1997 - 1999)
Gavin Alexander Houston Remy Boudreau [2] 5/14/02 - Present)
James Kukinski Jason Marler [Child] (2002 - Present; Rec.)
Amanda Serkasevich Darci Matthews(Jun 2, 2003 - Aug 2004)
Justin Klosky Joey Luppo (2003 - 2004)
Nancy Bell Susan Bates Spaulding (1995-1996)

Current TV Shows

Full List »
92 The Pitt: Season 2
90 The Celebrity Traitors UK: Season 1
87 Hacks: Season 5
87 Industry: Season 4
87 Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal: Season 3
85 The Beatles Anthology
85 The Traitors [UK]: Season 4
85 Bait: Season 1
84 Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
83 Lord of the Flies
83 Riot Women: Season 1
83 For All Mankind: Season 5
81 The Muppet Show (2026)
80 Outlander (2014): Season 8
80 The Other Bennet Sister: Season 1
80 The Mighty Nein: Season 1
80 The Comeback: Season 3
80 The American Revolution
80 One Piece (2023): Season 2
80 Dark Winds: Season 4
All Current TV Shows »

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »