Guiding Light Cast Roundup 83

This is the eighty-third entry in an irregular feature where we will report updates on what cast members of Guiding Light are doing now. I’m playing catch up on some soap magazine news. So as a reminder you can buy back issues:
https://glmanny.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/faq-back-issues-2014/

In the November 5, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest find photos from the 2018 Daytime Stars and Strikes. Read more about the event. Find photos of Elizabeth Keifer (Blake Thorpe Marler), Jerry verDorn (Ross Marler), Lauren B. Martin (Camille Bennett on As the World Turns), Sonia Satra (Lucy Cooper Spaulding, part of terrific LAM pairing, victim of Marian Crane), Elvera Roussel (Hope Bauer Spaulding #7), Grant Aleksander (Phillip Spaulding #2, adult Phillip), Michael O’Leary (Rick Bauer #5, the adult one we know and love), Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus Aituro), Justin Deas (Buzz Cooper), Margaret Colin (Margo Montgomery Hughes #1 on As the World Turns), and  Yvonna Kopacz-Wright (Mel Boudreau Bauer).

Bethany Joy Lenz (credited then as Joie Lenz) aka (Michelle Bauer Santos #4) was pictured at Lifetime’s holiday party at The Grove. See a gorgeous photo in the January 7, 2019 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Rebecca Budig (Michelle Bauer #3, part of the Messe pairing) has a role on the new show LA’s Finest. Read about it in the November 26, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. See a chain of photos showing the Christmas 1997 when Budig’s Michelle was blinded in the December 24, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Jordi Vilasuso (Tony Santos #1 of Marony fame) is fitting in well in his new The Young and the Restless role as Rey Rosales a cornerstone of the newly established Rosales clan. A feature on his character’s romance with Sharon Newman in the November 12, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. Vilasuso answers a round up that he recommends the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho read why in the January 7, 2019 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. Visit with Jordi Vilasuso (Tony Santos #1) and his family for Christmas in the December 24, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. He describes getting his The Young and the Restless role in the same issue. Read all about the new Geona City family in the November 12, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. He was also the Take Five focus with an awesome photo in the December 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Vilasuso is featured in the me and him contrasting his style with his character’s in the September 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

In the August 1973 issue of Afternoon TV Mark Hulswit (Ed Bauer #3) is interviewed. I think of him as 1970s Ed and honestly a lot of the time when someone says Ed I still think of him for a second before I think of Peter Simon (Ed Bauer #4). Here’s the thing though. Ed at the time was written as a twit. I always thought he was a twit even at the time. Apparently lots of people thought of him as a hearthrob. Not to be mean, but I just don’t see it. He was a twit. I think the article “My Wife is as Liberated as She Wants to be…” kind of sums up why I think so. The rest of the article deserves the title. It does include a line about having a dinner every month that “includes Charita [Bauer] (Bert Bauer) or Caroline [McWilliams] (Janet Mason) or Tony or Franny [Myers] (Peggy Fletcher)….I still keep in touch with some of the people who were on the show in the past, but have left. Mike Zaslow (Roger Thorpe), for instance.” An entire paragraph includes talking about how close he is to Stefan Schnabel (Stephen Jackson – Rick’s grandfather). including snow shoeing at “Steve’s cabin in Vermont.” This is kind of cool too, his two daughters were extras one day on Guiding Light “We went on location to a park in New Jersey. Tina and Jenny were supposed to be little children walking home from school. It was raining that day, and they spent five hours walking in the rain.” It seemed to cure them of the desire to be in show business.” So they must have at least occassionally gone on location in the early 1970s. I found the rest of the names he dropped and added last names and character names, but I honestly have no idea who Tony was. I don’t see a match on the cast list I have.

The September 19, 2018 issue of the CBS Soaps in Depth gives a recap of the 1998 storyline, The Nursery Rhyme Stalker – it was Holly as she fell apart after Fletcher took off with their autistic daughter Meg.

Grant Aleksander (Phillip Spaulding #2, adult Phillip) is returning as Detective Asher in off-Broadway’s longest running play, Perfect Crime. He previously played the role last summer.  Robert Newman (Josh Lewis) has also done some time in the role. https://daytimeconfidential.com/2019/01/16/grant-aleksander-returns-to-perfect-crime?fbclid=IwAR28KyXbPurL8E9YQTrmgbiau6DRKw2VX1SfhJW-uo4vpCwmDq-KIxwyBoM

A roundup of costumes in soaps included really nice photos of Reva during the Civil War through the painting episode and Harley and Blake as Irna Phillips and her secretary Rose. Find it in the November 12, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

The September 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest features a roundup of weddings where one of the principals is shot including Alan Spaulding and Doris Wolfe.

Scott Bailey (Sandy Foster, who started with the Mole puppet & then was falsely revealed to be Jonathan Randall) and his wife Adrienne Frantz (Amber Moore Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful) is pictured with his daughter at her birthday party in the January 7, 2019 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Taye Diggs (Sugar Hill, music producer involved in Dehlia and Drew Jacobs) is playing the coach in a new CW high school drama called All American. Read more about it in the September 17, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Rebecca Staab (Jessie Matthews, of Jessie and Simon fame) is given a feature interview in the December 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. It talks all about her recent work making multiple films for the Hallmark Channel and that her current boyfriend is William deVry (Julian Jerome, General Hospital). Find it with multiple photos in the article.

Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy Bourdeau with Christina one of the last great couples) recently had a son, Christian Lavelle. Read an interview about it in the December 24, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

When Sherry Stringfield (Blake Marler #4, the one who tried to marry Phillip) left the show back in 1992, Rick Hearst gave her a farewell party for her at Fleet Street a restaurant near the then Guiding Light studio. Stringfield then went to London for two months according to the August 25, 1992 issue of Soap Opera Magazine. A question reveals that Hearst appeared as Senator Paul Daniels on the first season of the Dynasty reboot. Read the details in the November 19, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Crystal Chappell (Olivia Spencer) was nominated with Cady McClain (Rosanna Cabot #2 on As the World Turns) for a directing Emmy for their work on the web soap series Venice the Series. See a photo in the June 11, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Jerry ver Dorn‘s (Ross Marler) wife published a picture book called Moon Glows in 1990 (it was later also published in Spanish) and published a sequel called Day Breaks in 1992. Read more about it in the August 25, 1992 issue of Soap Opera Magazine.

Check out a photo of Peyton Spaulding with her parents Alan and Beth Raines Spaulding shortly after her birth in the December 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Matt Bomer (Ben Reade #3)stars in the new dramedy Papi Chulo on TIFF. See a photo in the November 12, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

They summarize the soap Love is a Many Splendored Thing which ran from 1967-1973 on CBS in the October 8, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Among the stars were Beverlee McKinsey (Alexandra Spaulding #1) and Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe).

Daniel Cosgrove (Bill Lewis #4, part of the wonderful Bizzie pairing) stars in the Lifetime series YOU as Joe’s creepy, spouse-abusing neighbor, Ron, and Michael Park (Jack Synder on As the World Turns) is Edwin Beck the estranged father of the leading lady. Read about it in the November 26, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. Cosgrove is also interviewed in the October 1, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. They also talk about his role on YOU, but mention he is also recurring on Showtime’s Billions.

Emme Rylan (Lizzie Spaulding Lewis #6, part of the wonderful Bizzie pairing) is part of a Thanksgiving roundup about her favorites: “Sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. Green beans, yeah, they’re a close second, but do they have marshmallows? No, they do not!” Find the rest of the stars in the November 26, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Rylan gives her beauty tips in the November 19, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Rylan shared a photo of her peg board (she’s big into crafts). See it in the December 3, 2018 in Soap Opera Digest. Over the summer she had surgery on her nose. Her son had accidentally broken it two years ago. Read about it in the Oct. 1, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Frank Grillo (the last Hart Jessup) is starring in the movie Boss Level. Read about it in the November 26, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Karla Mosley (Christina Boudreau, Remy’s wife) gives a feature about having her baby. The baby is named Aurora Imani. Read about it in the  November 26, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy) had a son named Christian who was born just 4 days after Aurora. Mosley returned from maternity leave in November 2018, but her character’s husband didn’t return with her, Jacob Young (Rick Forrester) has announced that while he was willing to appear even sporadically the show had not been in touch and considering he wasn’t brought in for either Thorne or Hope’s (his character’s brother and sister) recent weddings, he doesn’t expect to be brought back soon. Their characters are divorced mysteriously off screen freeing up Mosley‘s character for new storylines. Read about it in the November 12, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Visit with her family for Christmas in the December 24, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth. Mosley gives her beauty secrets in the November 19, 2019 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Mosley appeared in The Bold and the Beautiful float in the LA Christmas parade, the one that inspired Gene Autry‘s hit, “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Mosley recommends the book Daring Greatly by Brene Brown find out why in the January 7, 2019 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

See a photo of Scott Bailey (Sandy Foster, who came to town as a pseudo-Jonathan), his wife Adrienne Frantz (Amber Forrester of The Bold and the Beautiful) and their daughter Amelia in the November 12, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Frances Fisher (Suzette Saxon #2, Fisher took over the role for 6 months in early 1980s) has a supporting role in the Mr. Darcy movie series (a take on Pride and Prejudice set in the world of the dog-show circuit). The series stars Ryan Paevey (Nathan on General Hospital). Read about it in the June 11, 2018 issue of CBS Soaps in Depth.

Murray Bartlett (Cyrus Foley, Jenna’s long lost son) joined Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City reboot as a recast of Michael “Mouse” Tolliver. Read more in the November 5, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

In a roundup of photos of November wedding through the years includes Mindy Lewis and Kurt Corday. Also Casey Peretti and Lyla Montgomery and Rosanna Cabot and Paul Ryan both on As the World Turns are pictured. See them in the November 19, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Joe Lando (Macauley West, a short term summer role while he was starring in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) played a judge in a short term on The Bold and the Beautiful. See a good photo of him as the judge in the November 5, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Roger Howarth (Jory Andros, Eleni’s brother in 1992) was the feature of the Take Five questions in the September 3, 2018 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

John Wesley Shipp (Kelly Nelson) brought his Flash on as the father of the current Flash. https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2463861/the-flash-may-bring-john-wesley-shipps-90s-barry-allen-back-after-elseworlds-crossover

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Daytime Stars and Strike Initial Report

October 8, 2017 I attended the second annual real life Bauer BBQ. I had an amazing time. It wasn’t overly well attended, but it was a great group of people. I was so glad to talk with Guiding Light fans and a couple of people who even knew my blog. I was especially pleased to get to meet in person my online friend Elizabeth who does the Guiding Light discussion board. I’m going to write up a full report that I’ll save for Bauer BBQ week next year and a special post on a bit of Bauer BBQ history I managed to nail down.

NOTE: For this post I’m going to use the term actors rather than actors and actresses or actors/actresses just for the flow of the post. However, I’m including both men and women in my statements.

Bloss Breakfast Two Shot

About Me

Now, I normally don’t talk about me in this blog. My opinions and memories of the show? You bet. My family history with the show? All the time, but I don’t talk about my personal history much. That’s really not what this blog is for. However, this post I think I need to give you a little bit of my personal history for you to get the full impact of the last bit.

Normally meeting actors isn’t that big a deal for me, even for shows I watched as a kid. There is another interest I have that is connected to a TV show I loved growing up. I’m there for events that often have a TV component (now a days I’m more for the research but if the TV stuff is there how can you not take part?). I certainly don’t make all of the events, but many are within a reasonable driving distance and so I get to quite a few, so many that a couple of the actors call me by name without prompting. I also have a cousin who is an actor and a father who is in the theater. So I know actors.

Also, while I was growing up, my mom had a job which had her, among many other things, do spots on local TV shows. Back then there were a lot more locally produced TV shows and she appeared on several on a regular basis, even being a guest host of one for about 6 weeks once. She usually had us come with her on one of the shows once or twice a year. So I know a little bit of TV from the other side of the camera, I know how the camera cues work, how hot the lights are (were? have they gone to LED and are they cooler than they used to be? No idea) and as a result how cold the studios were kept when you weren’t under the lights. I learned how green screen worked at a young age and knew that one of the local anchors always went on camera sock footed for some reason I never understood.

So my point is that I’m not normally all that excited to meet actors. They have a job. A pretty cool job which they are often very good at, but it’s just a job and one that I know a little bit about so a lot of stuff doesn’t impress me that might other people. I know in most cases who I really wanted to know is the characters and I know I can’t do that, so I’m pretty calm about meeting the actors who played them.

But…..

So I surprised with my reaction to some of the Guiding Light people. Honestly I knew I’d enjoy talking with other fans which I totally did (WAVES if any of you are reading this), but I wasn’t expecting as much of a reaction as I had to the actors. It wasn’t all of them of course. A couple of them were working the room and you could tell that’s what they were doing. I certainly admired the skill they showed at it, but that’s what it was — working a room. Some of the actors seemed much more interested in visiting with the other actors than the fans. But the magical bit was at the Bloss Brunch.

It was a small group and as early arrivers me and my friend Elizabeth (of Guiding Light Central) got to sit next to Jerry verDorn and Liz Keifer aka Ross and Blake. I had an actual conversation with them about soap history (with which they seemed impressed by my recall of long ago plot) and the current state of the industry which was fascinating. But it was a bit surreal. My vision even did a funny thing for a second when I first walked over to the table, like my mind couldn’t believe my eyes were working properly. I think it might have been that by the end their characters had become so like them, that it was like they WERE their characters at least a little bit. This was the third event of the weekend, but somehow they seemed the most real. For a just a flash there while we were talking I honestly felt that somehow I had stepped through the TV and had some magical way ended up in Springfield. Oddly it felt really normal as well. I had heard them talk on the TV for years and often talked back to it (I tend to get a bit vocal when I watch – see my YouTube comments). Only this time they could hear me. It just was natural, but in a wild dichotomy it was also absolutely amazing.

I don’t know if I’ll go again soon. I have a couple of other trips I want to cross off my life list that I’ve scheduled for the next couple of years (a conference I’ve wanted to attend for at least 10 years in Canada and a family trip to Disney), but I hope that I’ll be able to make it to another Guiding Light event. This one was certainly worth the trip.

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Jeva Custody Case 1996 Feb 12 16 1996

I started going through and breaking Bandstand Mike’s episodes into dates. This run started on December 20, 1995. Our last post in the series ended February 9 1996.

Rick confesses to Annie he still loves her and wants her back. Alan tells Reva to give up the custody fight or he’s leaving her. Reva picks her kids. With Alan out of the picture Buzz attempts to move in and ignores Hawk’s admonition that Reva and Josh will always find their way back to each other. The Jeva custody trial moves forward. LAM are back together and sorry to have missed their original wedding date and are in a hurry to arrange another. However, they aren’t as in as much of a hurry as Susan and Nick McHenry who will marry and move to Europe within the next week with little or no warning. Amanda is found locked in the construction shed and is dangerously ill. She’s rushed to the hospital meaning Alan has two children in the hospital right now. Dinah solidifies her friendship with Dinah – which is good they both could use a friend. Hart is still determined to leave town and heads for the bus station.

Monday, February 12, 1996

I think Amanda is right about Ross being furious and on her side if he would find her or find out about it, but why would he think to look for her? He thinks she left his office to go home. Rick confesses to Annie he doesn’t think she and Josh will make it and that he still loves her. Alan tells Reva give up the custody fight, make a deal, or he’s out of their relationship.

Reva tells Alan that she needs him in her life. Amanda makes a foolish decision and doesn’t ask the guard for help. That’s kind of awesome that Amanda figured how to get out.

Ross: “I waited a lifetime to find you.”

Blake: “And when you did you couldn’t get enough.”

Dinah and Amanda find each other at a bar and commiserate. Hart heads to the bus station.

 

Reva tells Alan she’s choosing her kids, she isn’t pursuing the kids just to keep a link with Josh. He still doesn’t believe her. He gives Reva the house. She says she won’t stay there, but she and Josh later live there. Ross discovers Blake left her birth control in the bathroom despite Ross specifically asking her to use it to take the stress off.

Ross is concerned about Blake. Dinah and Amanda are quickly becoming drinking buddies. Dinah: “If you can unseat the henna head more power to you!” (Henna is used for various things including red hair dye.) Ross believes Josh is devoted to Annie. He’s normally not this stupid.

Nice for Reva to have reached out to Dylan even if it’s off camera. Hawk really looked cold in that coat. Great acting job. Hawk tells Reva that he was staying with a friend and got kicked out when he burned down the coach. Hawk also confesses he blew through all of Miss Sarah’s money on gambling. Josh is supporting Miss Sarah now. Look at Reva and that handkerchief. She genuinely cared for Alan. It makes no sense considering how she treats him later. Good for Amanda not letting Dinah drive drunk.

“All the damage fear has done.” That’s a perfect song for Bloss right now. The quilt on their bed is Flying Geese pattern.

Tuesday, February 13, 1996

It’s a new day in Springfield. Buzz shows up to visit Reva and is ecstatic Reva and Alan have broken up.

Annie and Josh are concerned about the hearing today. That’s too bad that Dinah responded with snark. I think Blake is trying to be nice for once. Matt finally gets to work and finds a truly unconscious Amanda.

Marah is upset that Reva is doing something that has upset Annie and Josh. Hawk (about Jeva not reconciling immediately): “That doesn’t mean it’s open season for every Tom, Dick, or burger flipper.” Buzz and Hawk clash over Reva. Good for Reva to stand up as an independent woman.
Reva: “I’m not a little girl anymore and I’m not Snow White waiting for some prince to come save me.” Buzz is indulging in some wishful thinking here.

Hawk turns up to see Marah. He brings her a Barbie like doll with a cowgirl outfit. I agree with Hawk someone should explain things to Marah even if it really isn’t his place. Amanda is rushed to Cedars. It’s a rough day for Alan with two children in the hospital. I’d say 3 months is a couple of months. That was pretty picky. Rick is called to the witness stand. Althea brings up Annie’s alcoholism.

Ross cross examines Rick. Ed is called to the stand. He claims privileged information and refuses to answer even when threatened with a contempt of court charge. I think the counseling stuff should be covered, but having to physically take a bottle out of her hands is direct experience and I do think he should be required to tell about that. Hawk explains Reva’s side to Marah. I’m kind of sorry Dinah outed Amanda. Blake kind of deserves it. Dinah’s right it’s a bit harsh to defend Blake to Amanda when Amanda was in the hospital.

Matt warns Blake and is shocked to hear Amanda was at least telling part of the truth. Ross walks by and over hears.

Wednesday, February 14, 1996

Alex finally shows up at Cedars to see A-M to find Nick and Susan already there this morning. I know it’s not nice what they are saying about Blake who I like, but I’m enjoying Dinah and Amanda as friends. They both need some female and friendly support.

About Blake Dinah: “She’s toast.”

Amanda: “Burnt toast.”

Dinah: “Soon to be turned into crumbs.”

Amanda: “And swept away. Bye-bye Blake.”

Alan shows up very concerned about Amanda. Why do you think Amanda could easily get out, Blake? I mean she Macguyvered her way out, but it wasn’t obvious.

Reva genuinely doesn’t know what Annie is talking about. I don’t blame Ross for being appalled. That is some mustache on the cop. Roger is still playing the distressed husband role. Luckily Dinah isn’t having it.

Nick and Susan are trying to keep prying eyes away from Lucy and Alan-Michael making out. We get a reference to Valentine’s Day. They were originally supposed to get married on that day. Which considering that was VERY close to A-M and Harley’s anniversary, it’s a little tasteless. Great job building up tension about the witness.

I don’t know why Reva objected to her lawyer. I think this is perfectly fair testimony especially because she had done absolutely nothing to help this woman even since marrying big money. Alex informs Nick and Susan who were talking about an impromptu wedding that she plans Alex: “the wedding of MY dreams.” Alan comes in informing the family that he has moved back into the mansion and that Amanda is down in Emergency. Roger continues to try and save his relationship with Dinah. It was Roger’s place originally, I don’t know why Dinah thinks he should leave.

Blake is put in the cell next to Brent Lawrence who is still insisting he’s Marian Crane. Roger is still focusing on how he NEEDS Dinah in his life. Sadly it’s because he’s embezzling her money and doesn’t want it to come out. Roger has a rare gift he can make you like him and hate him within the space of a handful of episodes and then do it all over again. Amanda to Matt about how she couldn’t break out of the construction shack: “Forgive me for never having watched This Old Shack.” That’s a reference to a popular PBS home remodel show This Old House. Annie testifies about her alcoholism and does a great job. (Honestly the only time I ever liked Annie on the show was when she was fighting with Ghost Reva otherwise it always seemed like even when she was happy there was a level of frenzied crazy eye right below the surface, but she did NOT deserve the campaign against her by Jeva which has already began even though Josh doesn’t realize it yet.)

Matt gets Amanda to drop the charges against Blake and is still on her case. Alexandra overhears his threat, but doesn’t know what Matt has on Amanda. Frank is frustrated about getting through to Brent and calls A-M. Dinah tells Roger that she isn’t having any that setting up Marcus and constantly seeing the look of pity in Holly’s eyes is too much she isn’t going back. Again it was Roger’s place Dinah moved in why should he leave?

Hart shows up on Dinah’s door. Blake is released and A-M shows up at the jail to talk to Brent. The judge rules that the kids stay with Josh, but Annie has to move out. I’m pretty positive, but not 100% that this is the tag for Wednesday, but the way it’s put together both the clips and the structure this could possibly be the before the credits of the next day.

 

Thursday, February 15, 1996

Dinah makes a crack about Hart not being the Prize Patrol – she is referencing American Publishing House which sent out a prize patrol with balloons and a giant fake check announcing you won so many million dollars in their drawing which you entered by buying magazine subscriptions. Frank Cooper decides he might be able to crack Brent by bringing in Alan-Michael and Lucy. Amanda is still sick (coughing) when no one is around, but not too bad. Blake shows up at her room to tear into Amanda. I think that Blake is wrong. Sure Amanda could have gotten out, but she easily might not have been able to. It was pretty clever of Amanda to come up with taking the door off the hinges and while she did hide from the guard, a cold night, a slack guard, and he might not have checked. It was a dangerous stunt if she didn’t follow up. Everyone is upset when Annie is ordered out of the house, but I kind of love this judge and I think he’s right.

Judge: “It seems to me that Mr. Lewis has been moving JUST A BIT quickly, starting with his petition to this court two years early to have Reva Shayne Lewis declared legally dead….your client brought a new woman into the lives of his children. He encouraged them to call her Mommy. It would almost seem to this court that he wants Reva Shayne Lewis to stay dead to his children.”

I think this judge is amazingly right on. Why didn’t Manny get HIM in divorce court so he could tell them to sit down and take a breath when they were rushing to get divorced? Buzz moves in to comfort and make a move on Reva. If the construction shack was so weak what was the point of it existing? It was supposed to be protecting those tools and it’s a semi-permanent set, it wasn’t exactly made of paper. Josh: “This shouldn’t be happening. It’s not fair. We both know who’s responsible.” Actually you’re exactly right, Josh. This shouldn’t be happening and YOU and Reva are responsible. Stand up and let Annie go now cleanly and she might still have a chance. What a great Ross and Ed best friend scene near the end. I just love it when they play that.

UPDATED January 9 2018: I realized I didn’t have a summary block so I added one and moved some of the quotes down a line.

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Bauer BBQ 2017 by Robansuefarm Part 1

Author’s Note: This year’s Bauer BBQ fanfic is much more like a real set of Bauer BBQ episodes. I really love how it’s turning out and I hope you enjoy it. I haven’t broken it into actual episodes, but there are obvious places for commercial breaks that I put in.

I outlined it first and mostly stuck to that numbering so I could keep track of the different storylines.  I’ve kept my original scene numbers from my outline just to keep things easier for me, but you’ll see notes I’ve included when they’ve had to change. When I realized I needed to add a scene I added an A or a B. It really should be broken up into multiple episodes and I probably would have done that if I had gotten it done early enough, but I ran out of time. If I repost it next year, I may get that part fixed when I polish it.

So the lesson is start working on your Bauer BBQ 2018 RIGHT NOW!

Scene 1A

It was early morning at the Bauer House. Rick Bauer stood at the flag pole in the side yard of the family home. *

He looked around at the young Bauers standing around him. He looked at his children, Jude and Leah. He had always wanted children and even if he hadn’t been able to play as active a role as he would had hoped in their lives during their younger years, he couldn’t be prouder of his children. He was only sorry he never had more. There could never be too many Bauers.

Standing next to his kids were his nephew and nieces, Robbie, Hope, and Danielle. He was still grateful that Michelle and Danny had moved back from California when they had. His little sister was raising some great kids.

“OK troops! Let’s raise the flag.”

Robbie snaps the flag open with a practiced hand. He has been doing it for years. Even before they moved to California he remembered doing this with his Grandpa Ed. It is one of Robbie’s favorite parts of the BBQ. Being careful not to let the flag touch the ground, he clipped it in place and briskly ran it up the flag pole.

Rick spoke. “Every year we start the BBQ by raising the flag. The tradition goes back to picnics Papa and Mama Bauer used to have on the Fourth. They started every one by raising the flag. Papa Bauer is who I am named for. Robbie also is partially named for him. He was your Great-Great-Grandfather and I want you to remember his gratitude for living in this country, for the new chance it gave him, and all the hard work he and Mama Bauer did giving the Bauers a strong start in this country. It’s up to you to remember and pass this knowledge along so that someday YOUR great-great-grandchildren will do this and remember how glad and how proud we are to be Americans.”

Rick says something like this to the children every year when they raise the flag. He wanted to engrave it on their memories so it would be passed on.

*NOTE: The flagpole only appeared during the BBQ when they showed this scene and seemed to be set up wherever was convenient. Since we don’t really know what was in the sideyard of the house that’s where I put it and will keep it as necessary.

 

Scene 1B

The group trouped over to the garage apartment. It was already bubbling with talk and laughter. Mindy was right in her element as she made breakfast with the rest of the kids that had spent the night. Friends of the Bauer kids and mostly family friends before them, spending the night before meant they had early dawn help available if they needed it and kept the kids busy if it wasn’t.

Rick paused near the door to think how beautiful and happy his wife was surrounded by children. He was sorry she never had a biological child who had lived, but she had determined to be the best step-mother and aunt in the world and, as always Rick thought with a smile, what Mindy determined to do got done.

Rick walked over and noisily kissed his wife. “How are things going in here?”

“Everybody’s doing great. I’m glad the garage apartment is empty this year. This is a lot easier than getting them breakfast in the same kitchen where we’re prepping the BBQ.”

Rick silently nodded in agreement. He loved Mindy. She was a good cook now, but she was still enough of a princess that she never washed a plate. He was glad this mess wasn’t in his prep area. Rick didn’t bother with breakfast, he just enjoyed the chaos.

 

Scene 2

Later Rick stood in the Bauer kitchen and surveyed his domain. The rest of the year this was a kitchen, but today it was the prep area where he launched an attack to feed an unlimited number of family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and even complete strangers who would show up at THE place to celebrate the Fourth in Springfield. There had been a time when he had felt so shoved to the side, almost like he, heck, the BAUERS hadn’t had a place on the canvas that was the community of Springfield. He had lost heart and so had the BBQ, but ever since 2010 after Michelle and Danny had moved back he had felt all the glory of the BBQ again and moved heaven and earth to make sure each year was the best year ever.

In a way prepping for the BBQ was like emergency triage, but this was a good kind without the pain, horror, and blood. Instead the constant attention, prioritizing, improvising was of everyone remembering the community and having a good time.

“Listen everyone! It’s time for the hat ceremony….Leah, if you’re ready.” Rick bent down and Leah picked up the Bauer BBQ chef’s hat. Ed had always worn it and Rick had taken it with great significance when Ed had passed it down to him, but since this had become his and Leah’s special moment it became even more important to him.

Everyone in the kitchen paused and clapped as Leah, put it on his head, aware of what this meant. “The Hat” was always an important part of the BBQ.

“Back to work!” Rick called as the moment passed. Once the hat was on his head he felt like a general martialing the troops. He picked up his clipboard “Reports!”

“Danny, condiments!”

“Rick, I used to run a restaurant I think I can handle….” Danny protested, but as usual it fell on deaf ears.

“I said condiments!”

Danny sighed, rolling his eyes at Michelle. “There is ketchup and mustard at two condiment stations around the backyard and plenty of back up for each. The relish and onions are ready to put out. Salt and pepper shakers and napkins on each table. Everything is ready to go.”

Rick tapped the end of his pen against his teeth. “I don’t know that this idea of yours using big pumps instead of lots of normal bottles is going to go.”

“Rick, it will be fine!” Michelle broke in.

Rick sighed and made a note to ask people about it later to find out how it had gone over.

“Michelle, desserts!”

“I made 2 dozen of Grandma Bert’s apple pies this year. They are cooling as we speak AND don’t you even think of hiding one. If you don’t get any I’ll make some again in the near future, as soon as you peel the apples for me. The watermelon is on ice and Danny has his stuff ready to carve it when ready.”

“How about the ice cream?”

“You’ll have to ask Lewis about that. He and Lizzie decided to turn hand churning ice cream into a contest this year.”

Rick frowned. This was the kind of thing he expected to be consulted on. “Blake, you may have to go on an ice cream run later.”

“Have car keys will travel. Although how I became the designated errand girl…”

“We appreciate you being ready to lend a hand when needed, Blake. Salads!”

“Rick, you can see I’m finishing up the cabbage and apple salad. Frank and Buzz have coleslaw on their list to bring and the potato salad is in the fridge.”

“Bert’s recipe?”

“Nope, you always ask me, so I got Bea’s recipe this year from Michelle. I thought it would make a nice change.” Rick’s face grew stormy until she added. “I remember it was always a struggle between Ed and Maureen. I thought I’d let Maureen win this year.”

Rick bit off his protest. Since it WAS for Maureen he let it go and checked it off his list.

“Bridget, Dylan, lettuce salad bar!”

“Rick, we make it all the way here for the BBQ this year and got here extra early so you can shout at us? I think we got it.”

Dylan cut in, figuring it was better to humor Rick. “We’re still chopping. All varieties of salad dressing requested are checked off the list. We’ve got the ice and the thermometer to check all the salads to keep them out of the danger zone.”

Rick grunted. He spared a glance. “Bridget, it’s a great think you got back with Dylan. Clearly he’s the one with sense in your family.”

Bridget picked up a pair of salad tongs to throw at Rick as he turned his back and walked away, but Dylan took them out of her hand. “Humor him.”

Just then Kevin kicked at the door. Bridget wiped her hands on a towel and went to let him in. Kevin and Jason each entered carrying two large, stuffed full reusable grocery bags a piece, closely followed by Frank and Buzz weighed down by coolers.

Buzz asked, “Are you going to give us a hand, Rick?”

“Nope, that’s what these two strapping young men are for,” he answered putting an arm around both Kevin and Jason. Rubbing his hands together, he added, “You’ve brought the ground sirloin. It’s time to make some magic…Rachel Ray and Emeril have nothing on me. Bauer Burgers here we come!” *

*NOTE: The Rachel Ray etc. line came from Michael O’Leary’s appearance on a talk show making Bauer Burgers. See my making Bauer Burgers post.

 

Scene 3

The boys were still eating when the girls finished and moved on to decorating. Sarah Randall and Emma Spaulding were Hope Santos’s best friends. The three of them had formed Les Tres Amigas Science Club* which had made Sarah’s Grandpa Billy laugh although he hadn’t explained why he thought the name was so funny. He wasn’t laughing at their interest in science and had helped throw open the doors to Lewis Oil walking them through the operation and answering every question they had even if he had to hunt up someone to tell them all the answer.

Today Hope, Sarah, and Emma were working with the smaller girls Dani, Frankie, and Peyton.** on decorating the Bauer House inside and out to within an inch of its life. The girls were talking and laughing happily together. Little Billy was there too, as usual joined at the hip with his best friend Dani.

Michelle trusted Hope to watch out for the other children, but after that treehouse stunt with Dani and Little Billy last March, Michelle felt better keeping them under a watchful eye so when the Coopers showed up she’d slipped out of the kitchen. The kids ran around up one ladder and down another putting up flags, banners, bunting, and sparkles wherever they could.

Michelle shook her head at a lopsided bundle on one of the portico corners. She moved one of the ladders over to climb up to fix it herself shaking her head that they could make such a din. She hadn’t gotten very far when a couple of arms came around her and pulled her off the ladder.

A sardonic, but gorgeous gaze met her own. “And what, may I ask, were you doing on a ladder?”

Michelle tried to brazen it out, pretending her husband wasn’t holding her in his arms. She smoothed out her top and picked a couple of imaginary pieces of lint off her culottes. “I was straightening that bundle of course. It would be done by now, if you hadn’t had to show off those big muscles of yours.” Michelle crossed her arms and scowled at him.

Danny laughed as he put her down. “None of that little missy. I’m on to your tricks. You were on that ladder when you KNOW we agreed you wouldn’t be. I’m not letting you pick a different fight to get off the hook. I think I see where your daughter got her illicit climbing inclinations.”

“Perfectly, right – from you!” Michelle said frostily, but with just a hint of a smile behind it as she gestured towards her old balcony with her head. Then she blushed and smiled. “OK you caught me. I said I wouldn’t get on any ladders today, but it would only take me a minute to fix that one crocked bunch….”

“Correction. It will just take ME a minute. Now tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

Michelle’s smile grew downright naughty, but now was not the time, so she had Danny straighten the clump until it was perfect.

*NOTE: Les Tres Amigos or LTA was an independent oil company started in the early 1980s. The original members were Josh Lewis (Billy’s brother), Amanda Spaulding, and Ross Marler. Eventually Billy came to town and pushed his way in. It eventually was folded into Lewis Oil. Clearly the children never heard of it and why should they have….until Grandpa Billy gets around to explaining the joke.

**NOTE: Dani Santos (Manny’s daughter), Frankie Cooper (Daughter of Frank Cooper and Natalia Aitoro), and Peyton Spaulding.

 

Scene 4

Meanwhile in Chicago, a helmeted figure, dress all in black leather, adjust the chin strap on his helmet with the smoke visor. He pulled on his leather gloves. He approached his black Indian motorcycle. He saddled up, revved the engine and turned the bike south, towards Springfield.

Commercial Break 1

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Second Real Life Bauer BBQ

The Fourth of July has always been the important to the Bauer family. Starting in the early 1980s it was celebrated with a big party that everyone in town attended called the Bauer BBQ. The Bauer BBQ episodes were always some of the highest rated of the year. Manny was even married at the Bauer BBQ one year. Revisit the Bauer BBQ through the years:
https://glmanny.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/bauer-bbq-round-up-update-2016

Rick Bauer 2002

Last Time on Guiding Light

Daytime Stars and Strikes began as a Bloss Bowling charity event raising money focused on the famous Bloss pairing from Guiding Light, Jerry verDorn (Ross Marler) and Elizabeth Keifer (Blake Thorpe Marler) back in 2004. At first it was in aid of cancer (verDorn is a cancer survivor), but has been focused on autism for a number of years now. The major event for many years was a bowling event where you could watch soap stars (now grown to a large group from different soaps) or pay more and play with them.

Rick Michelle Robbie 2001

A Page is Turned

Over the years they tried other side events including concerts and most notably a dinner in 2012 in honor of the 75th anniversary of Guiding Light. Last year they amazingly decided to stage the first real life Bauer BBQ. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to go, but it made me determined to go this year and I’m proud to say I took a leap of faith and bought a ticket for all 3 events that weekend. I hope to see you there.

This year they’ve finally decided that transportation issues for fans coming from out of town could be eliminated if another event replaced bowling so joining the Bauer BBQ this year is Sing it for Autism Karaoke Event on Friday, October 6, 2017 and Venice the Series Gives Back to Autism on Saturday, October 7, 2017.

The 2nd Annual Real Life Bauer BBQ

-Hosted by everyone’s favorite “Bauer” Michael O’Leary (Rick Bauer)!

DATE:  Sunday, October 8, 2017

TIME:  1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LOCATION: The Residence Inn Secaucus Meadowlands – 800 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ

PRICE:  $150.00

They say, “Join us for a wild ride as we embark on our second Bauer BBQ!  You can expect a lot of giggles and good old fashioned fun with this event.  Sharpen up your memory (and google past BBQ’s!) because we are having trivia contests, a Family Feud Contest, a few surprise games, an auction or two and of course, delicious, genuine Bauer Burgers!   Be the first to purchase a ticket this year, be the one who wins our trivia contests, and be the one who makes a difference for Autism.  Be there!”

I’m already getting excited keep with us this year and I hope I can see you there.

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

Celebration and Chair Slide Aug 21 2001

Check out my latest episode guide post.

Tues., Aug. 21, 2001 – At the Bauer House: Everyone is celebrating Danny’s release, drinking champagne and toasting each other.

Danny: “Well, Ross, no offense you did a great job, but I think the real hero of my trial is Michelle. So to my amazing wife if not for your incredible stubborness….and determination I wouldn’t be here right now. I love you.”

Frank tells them that they still have to protect Michelle until Carmen is caught. Claire demands the police keep eyes on Manny until Carmen is caught, but Frank says he doesn’t have the budget for it. Danny pulls Frank to the side and asks him why he is acting angry towards him. Frank is upset that he punched him and escaped. Danny tells him he had to get to Michelle and he’d only decked him to cover him with his higher ups. Frank tells him if he wants to go straight he should concentrate on “following the law, not bending it.” Frank punches Danny and Tony comes in ready to hurt him. Danny laughs and tells Tony is it alright and Frank tells him they are even. Catalina tells Tony that the system works and she hopes he sees that. (As much as I dislike Catalina – calling her Cat is cute.) Tony tells her Michelle and Blake got Danny off, not the system. Just then Gus pokes his head in to greet the family. Gus comes in and tells everyone that there are so many cops on their side, it isn’t any wonder that Danny beat the rap. Tony doesn’t take Gus’s snide comments very well.

Danny: “Tony, Tony. It’s OK EX-Agent Aitoro is just yanking your chain. He knows full well that the videotape was real that Carmen is alive. He just can’t admit that because it means he lost.”

Michelle: “I think you may have to say that a little LOUDER because I think EX-Agent Aitoro has a problem hearing.”

Danny: “Oh, he heard me. Everyone in this room knows he lost, so please, please stay. Have a little champagne. Nothing will make this celebration sweeter than having you witness our happiness. A toast to EX-Agent Gus Aitoro I’m a free man today because of your blind vengance and your total incompetence. By all means keep up the good work.”

Gus leaves and everyone claps. Manny are estastic. Outside, Gus makes a call. Meanwhile, Blake tells Ross how brilliant he was. Ross tells Blake that he has lost his edge and that he feels he is growing old. He tells Blake that she, Danny and Michelle won the case, not him. Claire congratulates Michelle and Danny but tells Michelle how nuts she was to go after Carmen. Michelle tells Claire that she wouldn’t have had to if she hadn’t helped the prosecution. Danny tells Michelle how Claire helped him locate her at the airport. Claire tells her that she had to tell him to protect her. Michelle thinks they are very alike when it comes to protecting those they love. Claire offers to go ahead and set up that meeting with him and Alan. Danny is reluctant but Michelle thinks he can do a lot of things for Spaulding. Claire goes to call Alan. Michelle tells Danny she thinks it is a good thing and may turn into something. Claire calls and asks his assistant Sally to put her through to Alan. Sally tells Claire that Alan doesn’t have her on the list of people he wants to talk to. Claire is ticked. She goes back to Danny and Michelle and tells them that everything is fine and Danny has an interview first thing in the morning. Claire walks away and calls the Spaulding head of security. Everyone has FINALLY left leaving Michelle and Danny alone. Danny takes Michelle in his arms, spooning her and nibbling on her ear, neck, and shoulder. Michelle: “It’s over and you are free and we are going to start a whole new life together!” Danny is worried about Tony and where his head is. Michelle just wants to focus on the positive and getting on with their lives.

Cue couple theme song – Michelle sits down on Danny on the chair.

Danny: “I’m so lucky to have you. You stuck by me, worked so hard and saved my neck.”

Michelle: “You did the same for me, although I do have ONE request.”

Danny: “What?””

Michelle: “I don’t ever, EVER set foot on those docks again.”

Danny: “You’re telling me. Thank God you’re OK. Thank God you’re OK.”

Michelle: “Hey! What’s going on? You’re supposed to be happy there.”

Danny: “I am. I am. I just didn’t think this day would ever come.”

Michelle: “OH I did.”

Danny: “How do you do that? You always keep the faith, all the time.”

Michelle: “It’s, uh, it’s called love.”

Danny: “Do you know how much I love you? How much I love our little boy? How just the idea of being apart from you maybe forever was…..”

Michelle: “Don’t!”

Danny: “I almost lost you.”

Michelle: “Danny…”

Danny: “I almost lost Robbie.”

Michelle: “You’re never going to lose us, not now, not ever.”

Danny: “It’s so hard to believe that. We’ve just been living like this for so long. Always waiting for us to be able to live our lives.”

Michelle: “And it’s finally happened. It HAS happened and I just want to celebrate with you, you know.”

Michelle tells Danny it’s too bad everyone else is gone so…

Michelle: “We have the whole house to ourselves, ALL afternoon. What are we going to do?”

Danny: “What if I take you upstairs and show you how much I love you?”

Michelle slides over on top of Danny up his chest and between his legs….the chair slide.

My Comments: Now I love Buzz and Frank I truly do, but honestly it gets a little ridiculous how they start taking over all the Bauer parties. Honestly I’d much rather have had Meta there and Robbie than Frank. And we have to have Greek music when a Cuban somba, an Irish jig, or a German polka would be more fitting for the family that actually lives in the house. Nice line unnaturally put there for real life, but deftly explains why neither Meta nor Robbie are at the party before anybody asks. It’s kind of nice they did include Claire. But GOOD GRIEF do we have to have Catalina contaminating every single storyline group shot? Whether it’s Santos, Bauer, Lewis, or even Cooper – BAM! – there she is. Loving Claire’s beautiful pantsuit. I realize it must be hard on Frank to be Danny’s friend – I mean honestly he is always a better friend to Danny than Danny is to him – but in this case if Danny had listened to Frank Michelle would have been dead no ifs ands or buts so take a chill pill. That said I think Danny owed Frank that punch, but he COULD have waited until after the party. I mean WHAT is it with Gus and just constantly tresspassing on the Bauers? They don’t like him and for good reason. I can get him baiting them in public and MAYBE even if he knocked first or even walked in a standing open door, but he’s always entering without the owner’s position. Claire keeps pushing Danny to set up a meeting with Alan. I know how she feels I’ve pushed someone to let me do something and then realized I couldn’t do it when they finally said OK.

I don’t understand though WHY did they push it quite this quick. They could have taken a week or so off the front burner. Why did Claire tell Danny she actually had an appointment immediately when she didn’t? She couldn’t say next week?

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Brent Lawrence Bomb in the Lighthouse Part 4 Feb 5 thru Feb 9 1996

LAM’s fathers, Alan and Buzz, have teamed up to save the kids in one of my all time favorite Alan-Buzz sequences. Reva and Nick McHenry also join in the rescue effort. LAM are finally rescued and A-M and Alan make peace. Hart has taken his revenge on Roger by bedding Dinah, but Dinah still believes they are the real thing – for good reason. Dinah confides in Ross and he starts divorce proceedings between her and Roger. Bridget is furious that Hart is intending to abandon his son. There is some Annie-Jeva stuff which feels more like a check in with the story rather than organically fitting with the characters’s actions in the other storylines right now. However there is one of the most important scenes ever for Reva when she tries to explain Jeva to Alan in the most clear headed way she ever did. Blake locks Amanda into the construction shed kicking off a great and colorful dream sequence. Comment blocks below include clip description, quotes, and my comments.

Monday, February 5, 1996

Hart had come to town wanting revenge on Roger for what he did to his grandfather (impregnated and then abandoned his daughter, stole his land, and triggered his death) and how Roger had believed Jenna (Roger’s then wife) over Hart when Jenna accused Hart of aggressively hitting on her. (Jenna had lied to cover her own betrayal of Roger.) Hart rubs Roger’s nose in the fact he had sex with Dinah. Marcus talks sense to Dinah, but she doesn’t want to hear it – so what else is new? Reva tells Frank and Frank calls in the cops to come to the dock. We have an amazingly good section where Alan and Buzz have a great back and forth with Brent. Over the years they have Alan and Buzz be enemies and have them work together. It’s always a lot cooler when they set them up to work together. They are different, but both can pull out the gravitas when needed. They throw in some Jeva-Annie business just to do a check-in on that storyline although it feels off where they stick it in. Of course Reva’s lawyer would try to find stuff against Annie and Josh. What do they think? Lucy and Alan-Michael “marry” each other while waiting for the bomb to go off at about 20 minutes into this clip. I was wondering at the time why they didn’t worry about Brent having a camera recording them. Lucy should have followed Brent into the room and not given him a chance to watch it.

Tuesday, February 6, 1996

It was nice look at Ross’ law office, but I don’t know why he’d take off and leave it unlocked. It’s nice of Alan to talk Buzz down about Frank. Nick McHenry shows up and wants to know what’s going on. Reva had hidden in the back of Brent’s truck and is now sneaking into the lighthouse. Hart brings Dinah to Ross’ office to start the ball rolling on her divorce, but doesn’t want to stick around. I don’t understand though what his issue was. Even if he was completely lying (which I only think he thinks he is right now) why not just say he wants kept out for legal reasons and has to go back to work. Why make the big point about leaving to go to lunch? I kind of feel bad though, for once in his life Frank cracks a crime through brain power & 30 seconds later Reva comes in and steals his glory. I’m with Ross I saw how Roger talked Dinah into signing him her power of attorney and I still can’t believe she was that stupid. It’s also not good to co-mingle all funds even within a good marriage. That exact accounting of Dinah’s funds (which Roger has been embezzling left and right) is why Roger has been making these desperate plays to keep Dinah. I think he did like her, but he liked her money and sticking it to Ross even more. Roger is in love with Holly and despite all the garbage between them (they are both in need of serious psych help) I do believe she loves him too. Going for the bomb was truly a brilliant move on Alan-Michael’s part. He is at his smartest in the year or so right before this.

Wednesday, February 7, 1996

Really these are very well done recap half scenes.

Roger: “You know what it’s like to love somebody so much that you’d be willing to do anything to keep them.”

Ross: “Yes, but I don’t think you do.”

Ross is completely wrong here. Roger was willing to deliberately injure himself in a car crash to get another chance with Holly. He just doesn’t feel that way about Dinah. Plus, Ross should see that Roger is legitimately desperate, just over the consequences not losing Dinah per say.  I don’t get Hart being ready to take off either. I don’t think he was ever mature enough to be a good father, but I do think he cared about the kid, at least enough to say goodbye in person. Plus, this is where he gets to stick to Roger. If he takes off Roger might get Dinah back which Hart has spent all this time to set up to keep from happening. Cassie Lawrence (Brent’s sister) shows up and tries to talk Brent down. Ross talks sense to Dinah while Roger waits outside. Maybe he’s trying to get Ross to bust them up hoping he can then reconcile. Bridget reads Hart the riot act. She has started to get emotionally involved again. And if you were starting to think maybe Roger genuinely caring for Dinah note that it was the minute Ross tried to get her to sign the nullification of the Power of Attorney was when he burst in and sadly she leaves without signing. Ross and Roger have a long complicated history an confrontation between them is great. David was in love with Bridget and he was my second choice for her right behind Dylan. They were great friends for a long time – as Bridget and Dylan were – and I think they could have had an incredibly solid marriage, but it never occurred to Bridget to see David that way. The back and forth between Brent, Lucy, and Alan-Michael during the confrontation is great, but it takes like 2 minutes tops to run up the stairs at the lighthouse. Just what is taking Frank and Nick so long? They should have showed them starting later if they didn’t want them up there by now. I’m glad A-M showed he truly was the better person by holding on to Brent, but I can’t blame Lucy for wanting him to let go. This was a good fake out with Bridget and Hart, but it would have been better if they’d cut it in before Dinah arrived. I’ve never heard Miranda read like that, but I think if you have to say “Do you understand?” you need some sort of recognition before you can continue. Full long credits at the end of this one.

Thursday, February 8, 1996

Dinah and Hart talk and you figure out maybe Hart’s decision wasn’t as clear cut as everyone else thought to this point. Blake comes in and hears Ross tell that Hart slept with Dinah to get get even. Blake is on Hart’s side, but Roger tells Blake he still loves her no matter how she feels around him. Roger: “[Amanda] is after your husband and everyone in the whole town knows it…so far this one may have lusted after Amanda only in his heart, but give him time.” [In a very famous interview of former President Jimmy Carter when asked about if he’d ever committed adultery he admitted to having lusted in his heart and the phrase caught on.]

Alan-Michael: “I’m fine.”

Alan: “I’ll believe that when Ed Bauer tells me. I almost lost you once I’m not taking another chance.”

Dinah is hurt by Hart’s attitude. Ed checks out Lucy and Alan-Michael. They are good, but he wants them both in the hospital overnight for observation. Lucy apologizes for losing the $10 million dollars by hitting Brent with the suitcase.

A-M: “Father….that money in the satchel it wasn’t yours, was it?”

Lucy: “Yea, I’m very sorry for loosing it. I just had to hit him with something.”

Alan: “You were magnificent, Lucy. I couldn’t have put it to better use myself.

Lucy: “Yea, but it was a lot of money.”

A-M: “It WAS yours.”

Alan: “It’s only money, son. The most important thing is that you are safe.”

And he really means it. That right there is while you love Alan despite all the awful crap he pulls. I never really liked Nick except when he was happy with Mindy, but when he truly acts like a cousin to A-M which is rare enough I love him. Brent has terrible mental issues. I don’t think he’s faking, but I don’t remember. Why didn’t they call Amanda? She’s his sister and helped during the crisis. Matt to Vanessa about Dinah: “She doesn’t know you as well as she thinks she does.” Sadly that’s because while she does her best to take care of Dinah, Vanessa never ever opens up to Dinah. They needed that conversation for Vanessa to confess how she was as a young woman and how desperate she is for Dinah not to repeat her mistakes. Another nice Alan-Buzz moment. Buzz to Reva: “You have a choice.” You have a choice? Yea, Reva could choose to be independent and walk away from Alan without having to run to another man for once.

Friday, February 9, 1996

I don’t know why Reva believed Josh’s story and allowed it to color her attitude so completely. Even if Alan did things worse than Josh said, he just went through that ordeal with his kid. If she had even mild affection for him, she should have felt glad for him.

Blake: “Very smooth.”

Amanda: “I use moisturizer. Everyone should.”

Blake and Amanda who are more alike than either will admit (which is too bad Amanda grew up a lot during her first run on the show she was in a really great place last time we saw her before this recast). Blake locks Amanda in the construction shack which should have a phone so she can call to get out. I hope she can. Blake could have been having supper with Ross instead. It would have better served her cause. Rick is subpoenaed by Reva’s lawyer. Reva’s lawyer, Althea Templeton, warns her that Ross will come after her fitness as a mother. Reva: “I’m their mother. I gave them life and for the last 5 years I’ve lived like a damn saint.”

Marah hears the yelling for some reason assumes it’s about her. Marah is acting odd and Annie and Josh realize it. Reva tries to talk Alan to get it. Reva: “Bud can’t give without taking something back. He’s a Lewis and I’m a Shayne.” Reva describes the terrible thing that is always an issue between them. I think she’s quite right about this Josh doesn’t see it. This reminds me so much of the scene where she was moving out of H.B.’s house to move in with Josh and he made her throw out her clothes because HIS wife wouldn’t wear those things that I think is a defining moment in their relationship even more than the fountain scene.

Reva: “I just can’t be beholden to him anymore and that’s the bottom line. Maybe he just can’t see it. Maybe being born golden blinds you to certain things and being born poor lets you see too much. Bud always knew his place in the world and I spent a lifetime looking for mine and I thought that maybe once I had him I’d have everything I needed in life. I’d finally feel strong and safe and secure and that I could do no wrong. He knew I’d be and do whatever he wanted to get him and he was right. Even when we were kids he’d dangle carrots in front of my face. He’d say you be it Reva or we can’t play or put a prettier dress on or I won’t sit  in church with you. I gave Josh my mind, my body, and my soul and I will NOT give him my children so he can make them feel the way I felt my entire life.”

Alan: “Reva, you can find a middle ground.”

Reva: “No, Alan, with Bud it’s all or nothing and that’s the way it’s going to have to be with me. I’m sorry, but I’m moving out.”

Rick and Ed discuss their subpoenas. Rick thinks Ed will be able to claim privileged information and Ed says recent court rulings says that AAA people can be forced to testify about things said in meetings which I think is terrible. I’m going to have to look it up and see if that’s still true. That Ed understands this I totally get, but what does he mean IF? Ed did this same exact thing to protect Michelle from Claire. Rick is exactly right about this. I know Ed thinks Rick is seeing what he wants too, but he’s completely correct. Josh and Reva are getting back together and Annie is just a roadblock. And it’s the not telling Annie that will completely break her.

Annie’s hair is completely gorgeous here. Annie is such a competent nurse. I hate they took that away from her. The old guy’s name isn’t Scottie Hamilton. Scott Hamilton was a very famous Olympic ice skater. I just love it. Amanda is still trapped. Amanda: “Help! Is anyone out that? Help me I’ve been locked inside by a neurotic bimbo!” Now that’s funny. Amanda has an AMAZING fantasy sequence based on Dudley DoRight. Mountie Marler: “What do you expect from the daughter of Snidley Whiplash?” — Amanda: “Now show me while they call you mounties.” Eyebrow arch. LOL

I’m glad that Rick didn’t get his wish about reuniting with Annie, but that is a lovely old married couple squabble. That is a gorgeous wild rose quilt in Marah’s room. That’s terrible lighting in the Alan/Reva scene look at that awful  shadow on Reva’s sweater and then on her face. After Reva poured her heart out about the pain Josh caused how can Alan not get this?

UPDATED January 9 2018: I realized the introduction paragraph was accidentally repeated from the last post in this string. I also caught a couple of typos.

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Final Brent Lawrence Terror Part 3 Jan 29 Feb 2 1996

Picking up from the last post Brent Lawrence still has Lucy. That’s the major storyline to me in this next section, but it’s interrupted for some more early Dart and kicking up the biggest story ever for the Grant family up a notch. Matt is still threatening Amanda about coming clean about the her escort service. Nola is still having problems with J and Bridget is trying to decide if she should go after Hart or not. Also, sort of tying in with the rescue attempts, but not really, Alan warns Annie that he thinks Jeva are starting to get back together and Buzz is making a move on Reva. Comment blocks below include clip description, quotes, and my comments.

Monday, January 29, 1996

The cop tailing A-M reports to Frank (via radio which they know Brent has been checking????) and they are ready to follow A-M when he leaves thinking he’ll lead them to Brent. Amanda jumps in front of A-M’s car telling him she won’t let him risk his life. A-M is her brother and she loves him. Buzz is also listening to the police band radio while working in the dinner. Buzz and Reva had started the beginning of a friendship (which always turns to sex with Reva) when she was still in Amish Reva/Rebecca mode. They’d met up a few times in Springfield, but Reva had never told him of her connection to either Alan or Josh which hurt Buzz and made him feel like a fool.

It’s hard to tell if Brent is buying Lucy coming around to like him or not. He wants to have sex with Lucy, but she tells him that she’d be fine if only they’d go someplace else. Brent starts to freak out, but then comes around. He starts to walk Lucy through the night of rape, making Lucy walk them through that night from his POV. Amanda begs A-M to tell police what Brent said and A-M begs Amanda to let him go.

Amanda: “You’re my brother, I just found you again, you can’t die.”

…

A-M: “If I die trying to save her, then I die. I can’t let her down. Please try and understand Amanda, I can’t.”

A-M spots his police trail and realizes Frank is going to have him followed. He asks Amanda to help him get away.

Alan is trying to get Annie to help him keep Reva and Josh apart. Annie at first claims her marriage is solid, but then listens to Alan. Annie says she has nothing to hide (um, the retcon makes this totally untrue, although the drug addiction she had even then doesn’t help).

Frank’s partner suffers a fit of self-doubt giving a recap of recent action. Meanwhile Amanda disguised as A-M drives off. A-M runs down the stairs that shows Level 5 is the first one under street level. Brent continues his rewrite of their rape night.

Lucy takes over reminding Brent of how great they had been together before that night. It seems like Lucy has him reeled in, but then the alarm goes off and Brent calls A-M telling him next to call him from the phone booth on the docks near where they found Nadine. Buzz is full of self-blame from how he has let everyone down repeatedly. Most recently by staying with Reva instead of showing up at Frank’s police academy graduation. Reva tells him to knock off complaining and do something. Alan continues to push Annie to help him. Rick is still interested in Annie and she turns to him afraid her alcoholism will come out.

Annie is frantic to Rick that by revealing her alcoholism Reva will take Marah and Shayne from Josh. Rick talks her down. A-M makes the deadline to pick up the phone on the docks.

Brent reacts to Lucy having interrupted his A-M. Lucy says she’s upset because Brent lied to her, not because of A-M. Lucy continues to try to convince Brent to leave town without seeing A-M. Brent doesn’t bite and tells A-M to come to the lighthouse which A-M believes is finally the meet. Frank catches Amanda and tells her she just killed A-M.

Rick says he will help Annie, but never lie for her again. She freaks out and storms out the door. Buzz tells Reva she made a mistake being with Alan, that she should be with him instead. Frank gets out of Amanda what she knows which isn’t much. Alan shows up and Amanda catches Alan up. A-M shows up at the lighthouse and Brent comes out and smiles.

Tues., Jan. 30, 1996

Annie returns home to the Land of Wishes, Hopes, and Dreams. She’s freaked and tells Josh she has to move out. Buzz tells Reva that she should be with him instead because he could love her better than either Alan or Josh despite the fact that minutes ago he was saying how he failed everyone he ever loved. Alan is furious when Amanda catches him up and attacks her. Brent delightedly welcomes A-M to the lighthouse.

Brent makes fun of A-M. Brent: “Do you know how stupid a name that is, Alan-Michael?” (I kind of wish that A-M had explained the story behind his name at that point just to throw Brent off.) Brent reminds A-M that he shot him in the stomach after making him beg for Lucy’s life and to see her. Brent: “It feels like you swallowed fire.” Brent says pushing the gun into A-M’s stomach. Annie tells Josh about what Alan said and she says she has to move out. Marah overhears and is further upset. Reva asks Buzz what he’s talking about that they are just friends with some sexual attraction. Reva runs down Alan’s good points. I wish she’d remember this later on. Buzz insists if she really loved Alan, she’d have said so. Buzz tells her to call Alan and say she is going to date Buzz and goes in for a kiss.

Meanwhile Alexandra has Matt over telling him she wants to build a second home office that would be for Alan – I guess she’s taken over the one she’s standing in -and a solarium off the kitchen for cook to grow herbs. Matt calls her on just wanting more information on Amanda. Brent runs a portable metal detector over A-M and discovers he has a gun. Brent brings A-M up to the second floor of the lighthouse where Lucy is and they finally see each other again. I haven’t counted soap days, but in real life it’s been a month. See I think I would have wound this up quicker than this and pushed Reva and Josh to the second part of the month, but I’m not a writer. 🙂

A-M says hello and Brent taunts him. Lucy says she never wanted to see A-M again. Alan has pressed the right psychological button and Amanda is back to being a good little girl again. Sadly she’s fragile. Alan hires a new computer expert and puts him on finding Brent even though Spaulding’s normal computer people have failed. Alan calls the diner and Buzz tries to put him off, but Reva takes the phone and he catches her up and asks Reva to come. When he realizes it’s about Lucy and A-M, Buzz insists on coming along. And leaves the diner unlocked and unmanned. Seriously it’s no wonder why they were always on the verge of losing the business.

Marah comes down singing the song that drives the guy nuts in George Orwell’s 1984. This is NOT a good sign. Marah says Shayne was asking if they’d ever have to go live with Mama. They tell her no. Marah is clearly pretending the questions came from Shayne when they are from her and she is upset on whether she’ll have to go live with Reva or away from Josh or not. Then Marah continues to sing the crazy bell song — seriously it freaks me out every since I heard a radio production of 1984. Amanda is also freaked out. Alex tells Amanda that Matt has told her all about it. Matt jumps into the breech and continues the cover story. Lucy freaks out on Brent pretending she doesn’t care about A-M. Lucy jumps into attack mode and Brent thinks she’s his mother and backs away into the fetal position, but still holding on to the gun.

Alan’s computer man, constantly typing, is working on tracking him down. Buzz says he thinks Brent doesn’t just want money, but wants to break everyone. Buzz thinks that Brent wouldn’t leave until he breaks A-M. Buzz, Alan, and Reva profile Brent. The computer guy gets a lead. A-M is afraid what Lucy is doing as they communicate with their eyes. Then Brent pops back up. Brent says he’s going to count to 30 and then shoot A-M. If Lucy tries to stop him, he’ll know she’s lying. Lucy tries to argue that he shouldn’t kill A-M just because it would be stupid. It doesn’t work. He puts Lucy’s hands under his on the gun and points it at A-M.

Amanda and Matt talk. Amanda tells Matt that she’s always afraid she won’t be part of the Spaulding family anymore. Amanda tells Matt they have a deal. She’ll stay away from Ross and he’ll keep his mouth shut about their connection in California. (If you don’t know for reasons they’re never really clear about, Amanda was running a prostitution ring and Matt was working for her.) As Brent reaches 30 in his count for Lucy to shoot the expert finds the number, Alan chats to Brent. Meanwhile A-M comes up behind Brent with a ceramic knife. Bravo! Bravo! There’s some his grandfather Mike’s smarts! ♥

Wed., January 31, 1996

We pickup a different storyline today as Hart comes in and finds Dinah sitting alone in the farmhouse in the dark. He lights a kerosene lamp. Dinah expects Hart to tear into her. Alan is luring Brent in on the chat when A-M comes behind Brent (For some reason with a horror movie knife raise instead of a quick next to jugular move), but at the last minute Brent turns and fires at A-M.

A-M is shot and in pain, but not dead. Lucy continues with her plan to convince Brent she wants him. Holly, Fletcher, Ross, and Blake are having a nice reception at Reva Bend. They are concerned about Dinah. Holly abruptly changes the conversation when Fletcher brings up that Roger had said he still loved Holly. Hart tells Dinah that he just wanted to help Dinah – which I don’t think is really true, but for the sake of future story I’ll believe it.

Roger is eating with his lawyer Leo Flynn at the diner. The diner is totally jumping now, Elaine is in charge, and I have NO idea what time of day is this supposed to be other than they’re not eating a normal breakfast. Leo sends up a line saying this first thing Roger…Ross will ask for is a financial accounting and as Roger has stolen all of Dinah’s money that isn’t good. Roger is sure he can talk Dinah back, but she heard the sincerity in Roger’s voice when he said he loved Holly. Alan and Buzz are blustering at each other when Brent returns to the chat with the news he shot A-M.

Hart tries to cheer up Dinah pointing out all the other people that Roger fooled and that Hart himself had been the biggest fool. Hart retells her his story and how his grandfather raised him on Yates. Hart: “The woods of Arcady are dead. And over is their antique joy.” Ross turns down seconds on the appetizer that Blake made and Ross and Fletcher both threw their appetizers into the fireplace when Blake wasn’t looking. I guess Blake isn’t that good a cook. Holly is concerned with Meg’s future. Blake tells Holly about her baby concerns. Blake’s outfit is really cute, but I just can’t stand how Holly keeps talking about how great Fletcher is and how she can trust him. The only woman he never abandoned was Maeve and that was just because she died before he got the chance. Fletcher broke my heart when he broke Claire’s and never did a thing to make it up.  Alan and Reva think Brent has brain washed Lucy, but Buzz recognizes she’s conning him to buy time. Alan negotiates with Brent and when it starts to go wrong Buzz panics.

Frank is at the diner, but he can’t eat. Eleni has made sandwiches for the other cops. Eleni tells Frank she was wrong to be opposed to Frank becoming a cop that he was meant to be one to help save Lucy. Brent leaves and A-M begs Lucy to quit playing this. Lucy tells him it’s her plan and it’s meant to buy time so they can survive. Dinah says she loved Roger. Hart to Dinah: “Roger isn’t worth your tears.” 

Roger shows up at Ross and Blake’s carriage house looking for Dinah. Meanwhile at the Jessup Farm, Hart kisses Dinah. Buzz is upset. Both Buzz and Alan agree that the money is bait to lure him out into the open. Alan intends to kill Brent. A-M tells Lucy that the reason Brent is reacting to her strangely because he’s feeding her into the role his mother played in his life.

Thurs., Feb. 1, 1996

The Grants are having a family dinner and Griffin Williams shows up because Charles invited him. Hart and Dinah were still making out, but he breaks away. Roger tells everyone at the Bloss Carriage House to stay out of his life.

Hart kisses Dinah and we’re not sure at this point whether he’s playing Dinah or not. I don’t think Hart is entirely clear either. Griffith is showing off with stories of his work in the Civil Rights campaign and generally being kind of obnoxious.

Vivian does NOT want Griffith to stay in town. Nola sets up Jay to get his car locked up so he can’t take it. It’s pretty Nola-esque caper with Nola, Marcus, and Bridget. Roger hits a little close to Folly and Bloss and then declares that Dinah’s love for him will make their efforts to break them up useless. Meanwhile Hart declares he loves Dinah.

Nola and Bridget work on going through Bridget’s closet to see if she can deal with her closet and her life. Bridget: It’s “a big pile of maybe, a bigger pile of no, and not many yeses.” Now explain this to me. Why would anyone ever want Hart? I mean how does this guy get people to constantly have 2 women fighting over him. Dinah denies Hart could love her. Charles offers Griffin a fellowship to teach a political science for a semester at Springfield University. Jay and Marcus hang out. Did chariots have driver license requirements? Interesting Question. Roger shows up to beg Marcus to forgive him to save his marriage.

Holly wonders if Roger isn’t a little bit right about why they went after Roger. Roger makes a case that Marcus should forgive him. Dinah and Hart continue to talk about his relevation that he told her he loved her.

Bridget confesses to Nola that she wants Hart, but she’s afraid. Nola is very supportive. Bridget about Hart: “He walks into a room and I start to feel goofy… and then I see him with Peter and I think why not? Why not try to be a family.” Gillian tells her dad that her mom has been way out of line (which is kind of teenager like of her, sure Vivian didn’t act like Griffin staying would be Christmas morning, but she was perfectly polite). [Spoiler alert the woman Griffin hurt was her and she’s upset because Gilly is Griffin’s daughter and she doesn’t want anyone to know.] I don’t know why anyone would pick that African name over hearing him say Vivian. I might change my name to Vivian to hear him say that too me, he just rolls it through you. Dinah and Hart discuss what’s going on and then that bed is all too close.

Vivian asks Griffin to leave for her sake. Bloss have a heart to heart about their fertility issues. Dart starts to have sex for the first time.

Friday, February 2, 1996

Dinah wakes up in Hart’s bed the morning after. We Finally get back to the kidnapping. Alan has collected $10 million and is working with Buzz to offer it to Brent.

Lucy continues to play a part to survive and protect everyone. Alan insisted that Lucy be included before Buzz could object she wasn’t included. That’s why you never give up on Alan. Just when you give up on him he does something stand up like this.

Dinah and Hart are still in bed when Roger shows up. I wish Roger’s fear was that he’d lose Dinah, but it’s that he’d get caught stealing her money. Alan and Buzz work together which is always great.

Lucy works on picking a lock. Griffin comes in and joins Vivian and Gilly at their breakfast table. Vivian admits to Gilly that she and Marcus had an affair years ago. Dinah doesn’t regret sleeping with Hart, but isn’t sure what she wants to do from here.

Griffin comes to Marcus and tells him he wants to improve their relationship. Marcus having taken a backseat to everything else his entire life has no interest. Frank comes in and finds Reva. Frank tries to get the truth out of Reva. Frank: “Why doesn’t anyone ever tell me the truth?” Alan picks up the phone and Brent is there. He tells Alan he’s on A-M’s yacht. Buzz and Alan do a verbal dead drop.

Vivian tells Gilly about what happened between her and Griffin. Marcus explains that he doesn’t hate Griffin he just doesn’t know him and he wasn’t there when he needed him. Alan and Buzz work together and Buzz tackles Brent. Dinah tells Marcus about Hart and how good the sex was.

Marcus was OK with Dinah being with anyone other than Roger until he learns that she’s moving on with Hart. Hart sadly was using her – mostly – to get back at Roger. Brent tells Alan and Buzz they have to let him go. Alan-Michael and Lucy discover a bomb.

 

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Ross Unmasks Gus July 31 2001

Tues., July 31, 2001 – In the Courtroom, the break from yesterday was covered by Blake coming in and asking what did she miss. A self-satisfied smile crosses her lips as she realizes Ross’ secret weapon is the information she brought for him. They also show the bailiff bringing Gus a glass of water of the stand and then it’s time to kick the trial back into action. Ross continues to hammer away at Gus accusing him of making up the identity of “Gus Aitoro.” Gus denies it. Doris objects but Ross presses further. He tells Gus that they know who he really is and why he has a vendetta against Danny Santos. Ross pulls a photo of a man and boy out of his folder and shows it to Gus and asks if it jogs his memory. Gus looks at the photo and then at Blake, realizing she took it from his room. Ross asks Gus who the boy is and Gus reluctantly admits that it is a photo of him and Joe Augustino, a highly directed cop in Chicago that worked on the organized crime team, putting away mobsters on a regular basis. Ross asks how Gus knows Joe August aka Joesph Augustino and Gus tells him it has nothing to do with this case. Ross against asks about the relationship between Gus and Joe August. Gus still won’t explain. Ross produces a copy of a birth certificate for Gus off his desk. Ross produces the birth certificate that says he was born only seven years ago. In reality it was a name change to Gus Aitoro from Nick August aka Nicholas Augustino and Joe Augustino was his father. Gus admits it. Ross asks why he changed his name and baits him about maybe he was ashamed of his dad. Gus is getting angry telling Ross that his dad was a good man and a terrific cop. He keeps on and asks if that was the case maybe Gus wanted to conceal his identity. Gus tells Ross that he is a FBI agent and he knows Danny Santos and knows that he is a murderer and that is all that matters. Ross points out that Gus has been pursing Danny Santos hard for the past four years. Ross tells Gus that he wants Danny to pay for all that he has done. Gus agrees and tells him that Danny murdered his mother, Carmen Santos. Gus: “We at the FBI have a file on this thick, five inches thick and you don’t get that for being a Good Samaritan.” Ross asks if his interests are purely professional. Ross pushes Gus to once again say that he has been going after Danny just like he would any case, that he hasn’t faked any evidence, and had no personal grudge against Danny. Ross shows Gus his evidence and tells him that if he knows anything more he better tell know. Doris: “Your honor, Mr. Marler is waving papers around this courtroom like they were confetti. If he has something he wants to put on the record as an exhibit he should enter it correctly and I want to see them.”  Both the Judge and Doris look at the evidence and then at Gus. Doris walks back to her seat and Ross asks about the document. A police report from 1980, concerning the murder of Joe Augustino allegedly by Miguel Santos. Ross asks if that is why Gus hates Danny Santos and he will break any rules to put him behind bars. He tells the jury that it doesn’t get any more personal that one boy’s father killing another boy’s father. Gus tells Ross that Miguel was never convicted, charged or tried for his dad’s murder but it has nothing to do with Danny’s case. Ross paints a vivid image of Gus’s revenge. He tells Gus that he can imagine him as a small child at his father’s gravesite and promising that the Santos family will pay for killing his dad. He changed his name so that no one would question his motives. Gus blows up.

Ross: “When you grew up you started to make good on that promise. You graduated near the top of your class, you joined the FBI, you rose through the ranks and then one day you got yourself appointed to the Santos case and that’s when you decided to change your name in hopes that no one would ever face you as I’m doing now to question your motives because ultimately the truth doesn’t mean one bit the only thing that matters to you is getting even for your dad….(Gus interrupts).”  

Gus: “You want to know what the truth is? I’ll tell you want the truth is. They is they shot him down in cold blood. He was one of the best men that ever lived. Do I want them to pay? Ya Damn straight I want them to pay.  I want him to pay, I want every single one of them to rot in Hell for the rest of their pathetic life.  How’s that for the truth?”

In light of the new evidence Ross moves for a mistrial. The judge asks for the Doris and Ross to meet in his chambers. Everyone leaves except Gus who stays in the witness stand, stunned.

During Gus’s attempt to deflect Ross’ questions he says he is a registered driver in the state of Illinois and a graduate of Georgetown Law. He says his buddies used to call him Kojack, but it’s unclear that this is a joke (Kojack was a very famous TV police detective in the 1970s) or if his friends really called him that. I could see it either way. Gus has been directly pursuing Danny for four years (back in 1998) and his name change was seven years ago (back in 1995).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iln44DHyP2Y (Part 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zkHNucE42A (Part 2)

My Comments: This was a truly masterful piece of misdirection. They had been laying bricks for months that Gus might be Miguel Santos, Jr., but this completely alternative option wasn’t even considered even though it makes just as much sense. The main problem with this story is that it no longer makes sense after further retcon revelations. In this case that’s that Gus’s sister Eden had already killed Tony and Ray’s father who was supposedly the actual trigger man. I mean even if you go for an eye for an eye the score is even up so what’s his problem? Again, Gus is terrible, but in another red herring move Gus is actually telling the truth when he says he didn’t fake some of the evidence. However, if he didn’t fake it, it makes less sense, not more, that he did fake what he did. Even when we’re actually seeing the photo of Gus and his dad Joe, they are still selling it as Miguel Jr. for the first couple of beats until after the commercial break. The photo was taken at a Cubs game. This is such an excellent game of red herring. After a masterful testimony Danny takes a back seat to Ross during this phase of the trial, but they often flash to him for a tense reaction shot. Right after the Joe August bit Danny’s picked up a pen. I wonder if it was Paul or the director who decided on that just to break the routine of those shots up a little.

Truly the Ross arguing Danny’s side of the defense are truly some of Ross’ best lawyering ever. Love how Ross then goes to calling him Nicholas after the reveal both to get Gus into that mindset and to remind jury he lied. 

 

Robansuefarm is the handle of one of Manny and Guiding Light‘s biggest fans following in her family’s footsteps of Guiding Light fandom since 1939. This blog is an effort to make it easy to find Guiding Light and especially Manny online. Check back here for her blog, find fanfic previews and fake WSPR newscasts on her YouTube, find podcasts that look back to old shows and audios of her fanfics on Blog Talk Radio, and finally follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

The Other Miguel Santos Jr July 25 26 2001

Wed., July 25, 2001 – At the Courthouse: Danny is holding Michelle and says that he was impressed with her. Danny: “You, I want a sidebar with you Mrs. Santos…that was quite an amazing stunt you pulled earlier.” Dr. Fisher the dentist apparently testified off camera. He confirmed Michelle’s story about the switched records and was convinced not to press charges against Michelle. Ross tells Michelle that he didn’t approve of the way the evidence was found but glad it came out. Ross: “I do not in anyway condone the liberation of those x-rays, but someone else might say well done.” Harley arrives and tells Michelle she wishes she had come to her first. Michelle says she tried more than once, but Harley wouldn’t listen. Michelle says Gus faked the evidence. Gus arrives and says his ears are burning. Ross says Gus had said he was responsible for all the evidence. If he didn’t switch the dental records, who did? Gus says it could have been anyone but the bullet is still from Danny’s gun. He killed someone. Gus takes out a Cubs hat and puts it on. He tells them all while watching Danny that he is going to the Cubs game, box seat third base line. Gus says that unlike some people, he earned his tickets. Outside the courtroom, Harley confronts Gus about the dental evidence. Gus says they have a confession from Danny so they are still sitting pretty. Harley says he didn’t kill his mother in cold blood and they don’t have her body. Harley leaves, telling Gus to enjoy the game. Gus calls Peterson and tells him he got his transfer to the NY office. Peterson knows why Gus is calling him; he wants Peterson to keep his mouth shut about editing out the surveillance tape of his setting Danny up. Gus asks Peterson if he wants the transfer or not and Peterson says yes. Back inside, Michelle, Danny and Ross are talking about the gun evidence. Ross says if they found Danny’s gun it would help. Michelle says she thinks the gun isn’t the only secret the lake has to offer. Meanwhile, at the lake someone is walking in wader boots holding a lantern and looking into the water off the docks. Ross asks Harley what it would take to get the PD to investigate the evidence. Harley says this is the FBI’s case. She still worries about the evidence and thinks it is time to put up or shut up. She calls the chief and he comes over to the courthouse. He meets her outside and she tells him about the evidence and that she wants to check the lake for Danny’s other gun. The chief tells her it is the fed’s case. She wants the PD to reopen their case so if Danny did do it they can put him away or exonerate him if he was only protecting his wife. He tells her that he will call Gus if she wants him to but she stops him. She explains that someone is faking evidence and he finally tells her that he will get their divers out there. Later at the lake, Frank and David are watching the divers. Gus arrives and yells at them to get off his territory. Frank tells him that they police department has taken over. Gus is angry and tells them that he is calling their chief. Harley comes over and tells him that the chief ordered them there. Gus leaves and Harley tells everyone to get busy, there is work to be done. Michelle and Danny come in to the Bauer kitchen  and start making out. Michelle: “I’m so hungry!” Danny: “Hungry hungry or HUNGRY HUNGRY.” Michelle says food hungry and since there isn’t anything much in the fridge they decide to run over to Company to grab a late dinner before returning home and “dessert.” Michelle and Danny come into Company and Danny tells Michelle how proud he is of her. He is worried about her being harassed by Gus and she has to promise to be careful. Michelle: “I’m good at the love and honor stuff, it’s the obey I have trouble with.” – Danny: “No kidding.” He appreciates everything she has done but she can’t do anything else dangerous on her own. Danny gets Michelle to promise to not do anything dangerous and Danny pulls up her hands and tells her to uncross her fingers. Michelle says she just can’t wait around while Gus is trying to frame him and wonders why Gus is doing this. Danny says the question is who was Gus before he was a fed? Michelle asks Danny if he knew Gus from Chicago, maybe even as a child. Danny says no, but then a mental bell rings and he tells her that when Gus was talking about the baseball game tonight, he thought he might. He tells her that his father took him to a lot of Cubs games as a kid and they always sat on the 3rd base line. One time when he was 9 his father brought another kid with them to a Cubs game. His father was nice to the kid and even gave the kid a foul ball that he had caught but the kid threw it back onto the field, not wanting it. His father told the boy “That’s the last time I give you anything, Junior.” Buzz overhears and says that makes sense. Danny asks Buzz what he is talking about. Buzz says when Danny mentioned Junior, he flashed on Aitoro questioning him about Blake’s book. It seemed like he already knew Selena personally. It makes sense; it clicks. Gus is Miguel Santos, Jr. Selena’s son and Danny’s half-brother.

https://youtu.be/vmVg_RtYqtE (Part 1)

https://youtu.be/FfUjcXpakr4 (Part 2)

Most of this clip is the same as above, but the last two minutes are Ross reading the letter Blake left him cluing him in on what she’s found out about Gus although we don’t get to find out what that is right away. Sadly all the highlight clips I found also cut out Blake’s detective work which was awesomely cool.
https://youtu.be/zlIj3fYuwCI

Thurs., July 26, 2001 – Blake goes into the courtroom and asks Ross if he read her little surprise. He thinks she is remarkable and he is grateful to her for what she found. He tells her that the file she found is probably what is going to get Danny acquitted. He hugs her just as Michelle and Danny come in and tell Ross that they believe Gus is really Miguel Santos Jr. Danny says Gus is the right age and he has a vendetta out for Danny. He probably has been looking for revenge his whole life. Michelle wants to nail Aitoro but Danny tells her they need proof. He tells Ross that he made a leap to this assumption because of a comment Gus made about a Cub’s game that sparked a childhood memory. Ross tells them to slow down and he will take care of Gus. Just then Gus walks in and is standing in the doorway.

My Comments: Danny shows good appreciation for Michelle’s help even though it scares him.

Manny finally get the start of a love scene, but Michelle is starving and since they don’t have food in the house, they head to Company for a burger and compare notes with Buzz. They are super cute both with the off screen Meta-Robbie cuteness and their “hungry, hungry” bit. However, that’s a retcon of Michelle talking about Meta being around when she was little. Meta left town in the late 1970s and didn’t return until 1996. When she returned about her first scene was with Michelle and they made it plain they’d never met in person, so she never saw Meta when she was a baby.  It’s really such a shame that Gus ****Spoiler alert*** isn’t actual Miguel Jr. It would have made SO much more sense and would have spared us Eden. However, they do use it here as a truly excellent and elegant red herring.

Gus really was out to get Danny. Gus really did frame the evidence and planted the bullet, but Gus is telling the truth he didn’t change the dental records, he really believed that was Carmen. We haven’t seen it in the highlight clips, but is Harley up to speed on that Danny did shoot Carmen, but not with the gun Gas says matched? I don’t remember. And still WHERE IS RICK?