2000-2007

Summary

“Guiding Light’s” current decade, the 2000s, is made all the more remarkable for the fact that in 2007, the show celebrated its 70th anniversary, making it the longest-running show in television history! To commemorate Irna Phillips’ original vision of brotherhood, “Guiding Light” used their 70th year as a chance to help people “Find their Light.” This campaign took the show’s actors all over the country rebuilding homes and assisting stricken communities.

70th Anniversary logo. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Scene from the “Find Your Light” tour. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

It has also been a time of much change on the show. A crime element was introduced with the rise of the Santos mob family who had appeared at the end of the 90s; show stalwart (and longest-running actor and character) Ross Marler was killed; Reva went through several huge, life-changing events; and to date, much-reformed bad boy Josh Lewis has become a minister.

Josh becomes a minister. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

On February 29th, “Guiding Light” will boldly go where no other soap has gone before when it switches from the traditional three-wall set to permanent four-wall sets complete with high ceilings. The show will also embrace modern technology by using handheld cameras so that the scenes can be fully viewed on a set. It is a much more personal way of telling a story. We have a feeling Irna would be proud.

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Milestones

“Guiding Light” started the turn of the century by taking viewers on a journey through the island of San Cristobel. This was the royal island where an amnesiac Reva had lived for several years and given birth to a son, whom she initially didn’t remember having when she returned to Springfield. San Cristobel was like a fairy tale with a handsome prince (Richard Winslow), an evil villain (his brother Edmund), an abused child (Reva’s son Jonathan) and eventually a princess (Cassie Layne).

Richard and Edmund. Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua.

Prince Richard in full regalia. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Prince Richard riding a
horse on the beach.
Courtesy of PGPphoto.

After Hart’s death, Cassie didn’t think she’d love again but when Richard offered to marry her to solve her financial problems, Cassie saw him as her knight in shining armor. Though both Edmund and Reva (and Cassie’s ex, Rob) tried to stop them, Richard and Cassie’s love was commemorated in a wedding fit for a princess.

Cassie and Prince Richard give a masquerade ball.
Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua/TeleVest.

Cassie and Richard’s royal wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Watch the Video: Richard, "You look beautiful. I was afraid you weren't going to make it." Cassie, "I wouldn't miss marrying you for the world."

Watch the Video: Cassie to Reva, "Thank you for making this day possible."

Olivia wound up in Springfield with everyone else from San Cristobel, where she found herself in a hotel partnership with Cassie. Though the two clashed, Olivia had home comfort when she and Josh began a romance. Unfortunately, she ruined it by sleeping with Alan for business reasons and Josh threw her out of the house.

Olivia. Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua/TeleVest.

Michelle Bauer had grown up and found herself involved with the Santos crime family. Danny Santos was conflicted over his duty to his family – particularly his manipulative mother, Carmen. Carmen hated Michelle for being involved in the death of her first-born son, Mick. To protect Michelle, Danny married her and naturally, they fell in love. Because of his dangerous lifestyle, they would marry and divorce a few more times before finally marrying for the last time and moving away with their two children.

Michelle Bauer and Danny Santos' first wedding. Jim Antonucci/TeleVest.

Michelle and Mama Carmen. Courtesy of Jim Antonucci/TeleVest.

Carmen and Danny. Courtesy of Jim Antonucci/TeleVest.

Carmen and Ben. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Michelle and Danny. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Michelle and Danny’s wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Michelle and Danny with their son Robbie. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

After surviving marriage to Edmund and a horrific flash flood that nearly killed her, an overwhelmed Beth developed a split personality by the name of Lorelei Hills. “Guiding Light” broke the fourth wall by having Lorelei write a diary of her life and times and selling it in stores as “Lorelei’s Diary.” Beth was treated and cured but her loneliness led to an affair with the younger Bill Lewis (Billy and Vanessa’s son).

FBI agent Gus Aitoro came to Springfield on a mission to destroy the Santos family. He partnered up with Harley and their chemistry was instant and electric. Gus had the motive to imprison the Santos clan because his father, a cop, had been killed by Miguel Santos. After being forced to resign from the FBI, Gus joined the Springfield PD where Harley was a detective there. Gus was shocked when he learned that Alan Spaulding was his father and the news sent his romance with Harley into a tailspin. Further trouble came when Harley was convicted of killing Phillip and sent to prison. In prison, Harley was reunited with her ex-husband, Mallet, who was the warden!

When a prison transfer allowed Harley to escape, she and Gus took off to find evidence to clear her and to hide from the cops. Fans were given a treat when Gus and Harley ended up on a soap opera stage – “Guiding Light’s” own set. Eventually Harley tricked Alan into a confession and she was exonerated. Only Alan hadn’t killed Phillip; he’d placed his mentally imbalanced son in an institution.

Phillip and Harley marry in 2002. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Mayor Giuliani officiates at Phillip and Harley’s wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Gus and Harley marry in 2005.
Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Ross officiates at Gus and Harley’s wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva, meanwhile, traveled through time when she found a painting of a Civil War couple, who looked just like Josh and Olivia. She was able to step through the painting and found herself in New Orleans where she was a nurse caring for a wounded Confederate soldier, Jack (who was the very image of Josh). Then she went to Edwardian England where she was governess and he was a farm hand. In Paris during World War II, Reva ended up seeing the real Josh when he stepped through the painting to find her.

Reva travels through time in a painting.
Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Josh and Reva had remarried after their time-traveling adventure but their happiness was ruined when Richard was in a deadly car accident. He fell into a coma and Cassie was by her husband’s side every day. When Reva convinced her to take some time to be with the children, Richard woke up in excruciating pain and asked Reva to let him die. Reva prayed and struggled with the decision but in the end, she pulled the plug on Richard’s life support. Though Reva went on trial for murder and Cassie swore never to forgive her, it was Cassie who forged a living will for Richard that exonerated Reva. The mistress Shayne slowly mended fences with her family.

Richard in the operating room after his accident. Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua/TeleVest.

Cassie and Reva wait for word on Richard’s condition. Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua/TeleVest.

Reva and Cassie. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva and Josh marry for the third time. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Watch the Video: Reva and Josh write the same vows to say to each other after the ceremony.

Cassie was beyond stunned when a Richard look-alike District Attorney named Jeffrey O’Neil arrived in Springfield. Because he was nothing like Richard though he shared her beloved husband’s face, Cassie took an immediate disliking to him. Meanwhile, Richard’s death had prompted a personality change from Edmund and he worked hard to become a decent man who would be worthy of Cassie, since he’d fallen in love with her. Though she had every reason not to trust him, he proved himself repeatedly to be steadfast and true and they became engaged. Slowly though, the old Edmund’s habits crept back and he soon found himself manipulating Cassie to ensure their happiness.

Edmund threatens Josh. Courtesy of Lorenzo Bevilaqua/TeleVest.

Edmund and Cassie. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Jeffrey learned that Dinah Marler was moving throughout Europe impersonating Cassie, something they had actually done together with him being Richard. He wrangled her back to Springfield where she instantly got up to no good. Edmund trapped her into a plot to steal Michelle’s baby for Cassie to raise as her own. Edmund’s latest evil deeds would be uncovered and he wound up back in San Cristobel’s prison. By this time, Cassie and Jeffrey had fallen in love but his many lies drove them apart.

Dinah and Jeffrey. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Sandy Foster was a young, vibrant radio personality but a lonely soul whose only friend was a sock puppet. When Reva met him, she connected the dots and realized that he was her missing son, Jonathan. Overjoyed, Reva welcomed him into the family and they soon bonded as mother and son. Reva’s niece Tammy had struck up a friendship with a mysterious brooding young man named JB and warned Tammy away from him. JB hated Reva upon sight and constantly degraded her every time they met. When Sandy needed an operation, Reva found out that he wasn’t her son…but JB was!

Reva and Sandy. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva and Jonathan. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva and Jonathan in the fountain. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva and Jonathan in the fountain

Viewers were shocked when the real Jonathan seduced Tammy, who was technically his first cousin. Though disgusted by her son’s actions, she realized that the terrible abuse he’d suffered at his stepfather’s hands had seriously warped Jonathan. She was determined to break through to him even though it was putting a heavy strain on her marriage (which had already been faltering under the weight of Reva’s newly discovered psychic abilities).

Jonathan’s stepfather, Alfred, tries to choke him.
Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy and Sandy’s almost wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva passed out in the airport after visiting Marah in France and went to the doctor who ran several tests that included a mammogram. When the mammogram revealed a mass in her breast, Reva decided to keep the news from Josh since he was deeply embroiled in building a veteran’s hospital in honor of his father. Reva soon learned that she had a malignant tumor and needed to start chemotherapy right away. Still focused on protecting her family from the dire news, Reva told no one about her health troubles. She and Jonathan had miraculously grown close after Sandy’s unfortunate death and Jonathan’s stepfather’s return. He was the first to discover she had cancer and offered his mother immediate support.

Reva discovers she has breast cancer. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva at the hospital. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Jonathan and Tammy had defied everyone’s doubts and dire predictions to continue their passionate romance though Lizzie (now a sassy teen) wanted Jonathan for herself and seduced him on one his breaks from Tammy. Reva found out that Lizzie was pregnant and urged Jonathan to claim his daughter. Jonathan told Billy about Reva’s cancer so another person could help her. Meanwhile, frustrated by Reva pushing him away, Josh had grown closer to Cassie and Reva convinced herself that the two should be together after her death. When Josh and all of Reva’s loved ones finally found out about her illness, she was near death. In fact, she flatlined but upon her revival it was soon discovered that her cancer was in remission. “Guiding Light” made a big push to female viewers to get screened for breast cancer and to get immediate treatment if they were diagnosed by having real-life cancer survivors be a part of Reva’s support group.

Tammy and Jonathan make love. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy and Jonathan’s wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva with Jonathan at his wedding to Tammy. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy helps Lizzie deliver Sarah in a car. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Reva, Jonathan, and baby Sarah. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy and Jonathan with Sarah. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Lizzie, Jonathan and baby Sarah. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Dinah finally found some happiness with Mallet once he finally gave up the ghost of reuniting with Harley. Their push/pull relationship is reminiscent of an old 40s flick and they proved a popular fan couple. Of course, Dinah couldn’t stay on the straight and narrow and they are currently broken up. Dinah’s world was further rocked by the death of her father, Ross, in a plane accident. It was the end of the show’s most enduring character.

Dinah and A.C. Mallet. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Dinah and Mallet’s wedding. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Dinah with Vanessa. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Dinah with Ross. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Dinah with Ross

What’s going on in Springfield in 2008? Josh married Cassie and became a minister; Tammy died in a horrible accident and a grieving Jonathan faked both his and baby Sarah’s deaths – with Reva’s help; Gus and Harley finally called it quits and she’s entangled in a triangle between her niece Marina and Cyrus, a sexy Australian con-artist while Gus has reunited with old love (and mother of his son, Rafe) Natalia; Reva and Jeffrey are in the midst of a fun-filled affair; Rick and Beth are awaiting the birth of her baby, which he doesn’t know is really Alan’s child; Bill returned to town after some mystery in Venezuela and he and Lizzie are having a cat/mouse affair that viewers love; Coop (Buzz and Jenna’s son) shocked everyone (and thrilled fans!) when he chose the heavyset Ashlee over willowy Ava; and Jonathan has returned to wreak his usual brand of havoc. You can check out what he was up to while he was gone in his journal, “Guiding Light: Jonathan’s Story” on-sale now.

Beth marries Alan in a sanitarium. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Beth marries Rick. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy on her deathbed with Jonathan. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Tammy on her deathbed with Cassie. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Jonathan and baby Sarah. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Cassie and Josh. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Ashlee shoots Alan. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Cyrus marries Alexandra. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Cyrus and Marina. Courtesy of PGPphoto.

Cyrus and Harley. Courtesy of PIstudios.

Gus and Natalia’s wedding. Courtesy of PIstudios.

Jonathan takes aim at Alan. Courtesy of PIstudios.

Jonathan and Lizzie with Sarah get married. Courtesy of PIstudios.

Alan with his and Beth’s baby Bernadette. Courtesy of PIstudios.

It is a decade to be proud of and with all of the coming changes it looks like “Guiding Light” will be celebrating the brotherhood of man for many years to come.