A Review of the New Guiding Light Set, Production
Today was the first day of the rest of Guiding Light's life. Or something to that effect.
The long-running soap opera introduced a new set and new overall production format. Here's a review of the changes, courtesy of iF Magazine:
Trying to be hipper, faster and more current in its strorytelling devices, CBS is shaking up a format that has been etched in stone for decades and while it may bring in younger viewers, its going to be shock treatment for older watchers who will be thinking their favorite soap has been hijacked by cable access filmmaking punks featuring shaky camera work, bad lighting and audio that sounds as it came directly from the microphone on the video camera.
That said, theres some good and very bad examples of what is working as they try to accomplish something groundbreaking with its new milieu.
Read the full review now.
March 5th, 2008 8:14 PM
I absolutely hate the new production format. I think you have ruined a great show and predict that this show will lose in the ratings and will probably not last long. Please reconsider the format of the show. I think a kindergartner with a video camera could do a better job filming than what you are doing now!
March 6th, 2008 1:42 AM
I absolutely hate the new format. It's cheap and very amateurish. Visual quality is horrid, lighting - horrid; sound - terrible, writing and storylines - ugh. The in-your-face-up-your-nostrils style is loathsome. New indoor sets have a cramped and clostrophobic feeling. The constantly moving camera makes me feel queasy like being sea-sick so
unfortunately I can't watch it even if I could get past all the other things. I have watched GL for many, many years and stuck with it through it's good and bad times, however this is the straw that broke the camels back. It makes me sad that they feel they have to make such drastic changes to the format when that is only a bandaid solution (actually it might just put the light out). It's all about great writers producing excellent and socially relevant stories and great acting.
They have lost me as a viewer.
March 10th, 2008 2:54 PM
I hate it too and have officially deleted gl from my tivo schedule. I gave it a week and cannot get used to it. It's as if my daughter made a home video. I have watched gl since 1979 and it's too bad such a horrible mistake was made.
March 12th, 2008 1:34 AM
I also hate the new format and that it was going to be just an 'experimental' thing that would pass. I finally decided to research it online tonight only to find that it is a permanent change!! I can't believe they think that the shaky camera work and poor sound is going to INCREASE viewers. Please bring back the old format as I love the show but can't take this new 'format' any longer!!
March 16th, 2008 7:38 AM
The new format is AWFUL!!! It is so distracting the way the camera sways. The actors seem so amateurish somehow. I stopped watching the show after 15 years because of this new format!
March 25th, 2008 11:56 PM
It's AWFUL. My child could shoot this. I liked watching a TV show, not some kid's YouTube version of a soap. Camera shaky, sound through the camera? Really? I'm done with the show as long as it stays like this.
Personally, Prod. saying they did it to make it more "hip" is another way of them saying "let's cut costs." I can't believe there are people out there that like this.
April 2nd, 2008 8:37 PM
I am mourning the loss of my beloved Guiding Light. I get motion sickness watching it now and just cannot bear it anymore. I gave it a week but even at that, it was just too difficult to watch. So distracting, and how close do you really need to get?!!!!!!
April 7th, 2008 10:33 PM
Shutterfly said it well. It is so bad that I may soon stop viewing as well. The camera work is disturbing, the sound is so bad that even after I turn the volume up all the way, parts are intelligible. The lighting is appalling, and seeing Harley and Olivias up that close is downright scary.
If I see another day of the funeral, Guiding Light will need one too. Get on with it!
May 5th, 2008 3:29 PM
I disagree, I absolutely love the new set, the new look and everything else. Give yourself a chance to get used to the new look. I think it is refreshing.
May 7th, 2008 7:47 AM
let's face it, money talks! It realy doesn't matter what we all think, we are not the advertisers and until THEY stop supporting the show (that now sucks), nothing will change back. The truth is they are cutting corners and the show looks worse than a bad porn (if you will). This is a very sad note to a historical soap opera but untill the advertisers do something, NOTHING will change. And as far as 'giving it time' uh DUHHHH I think we have. We have also spoken, but the truth (let's face it) is that WE don't matter. Money does!!
May 12th, 2008 10:28 AM
I am so tired of not only the new format but the horrible writing. The format takes away from the story that isn't even good to begin with! Don't get me started on the cheesy music they play during 70% of the show - maybe they need the music because the story is so bad.
May 19th, 2008 2:30 PM
the new look of guiding light sucks! was there a budget cut or something?? you would think on a show thats been running for so long that the camera man could find a way to hold that thing still. My little brother could do better on the home video camera!!
May 26th, 2008 4:21 PM
The new format is amateurish and appears to be low budget. I have watched the Guiding Light for over 40 years and I'm really disappointed. The sound is terrible. The scene where Remmie was runing "nude" through the park was a joke. You could see the shorts he was wearing. That should have been edited out if you really expected anyone to think he was nude. The story lines are terrible. I feel like I'm wasting my time watching the show. My mother-in-law, who does not have internet access, asked that I relay to you that she too is not happy with the show. If you care about your audience, you will make some changes quick.
June 3rd, 2008 9:29 AM
I absolutely can't stand the new format. What is with the shaking camera? Is an inexperienced person on the camera now? I agree it does look as if it is a low budget film. And please get rid of that loud corny music! It is very annoying. Whose Idea was it anyway?
I use to watch this show everyday. I am not watching it as closely as before. I may watch it 2 days a week.
When and if the character Riva Shane leaves, I'll probabaly stop watching it all together. Tired of since these kids' drama (Bill Jr, Lizzy, ect). I'm ready for some real adults (Riva, comeback of Phillip) Whatever happened to "Nick" the santa that would help the Rick, Phillip, Rick, Melinda Sue when they needed it? We need a hero already!
June 19th, 2008 5:41 PM
Words cannot tell you how HORRABLE the so called new format is. My 9yr old could do better with with a toy camera. And the plot/story lines make no sence half the time. If their goal was to completely kill this wonderful show after just celebrating 70 yrs, well they may just have done just that. I don't have the time to watch the show when it airs, but I have ALWAYS taped it to watch later. Well, I find myself fastforwarding through 85% of the show.
Please bring back the glory that was once "THE GUIDING LIGHT" because as it stands now I will not watch anymore.
June 29th, 2008 11:48 PM
i thought it was a joke at first.. its horrid.
go back!!!
July 16th, 2008 3:22 PM
Note to GL...soap operas are supposed to be an escape from the everyday. I want to see my characters looking their very best, glamorous, sexy, handsome. Give me some fantasy please! This new format ruins everything. I hate it.
July 18th, 2008 9:30 AM
half the year has gone by sence the changes started to take effect and they have had PLENTY of time to improve. Obviously, thy just don't care. If they realy wanted to make a new soap they should have done JUST that or at least said that all these younger cast members (and Cooper clan) all moved to PA and called it something different. Otherwise, calling it Guiding Light is insulting. Anyway, the Guiding Light we all grew up with a know actually ended in January. They might as well just cancelled because this new show (call it what you will) it is NOT the show that is so beloved. For such a long=standing soap it did deserve so much better. Those in current power there need to be replaced. They HAVE had time to make improvements and it is obvious that they don't CARE at all. Let's be honest the show we know and love was cancelled a long time ago, having the characters dragged through the mud of this terrible format is beyond insulting.
July 31st, 2008 3:44 PM
I AM SPEECHLESS! I AM WATCHING ONE MORE DAY ONLY TO RECORD THE SPONSORS AND START A BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN ON ALL THE PRODUCTS ADVERTISED.
August 13th, 2008 12:05 AM
I was flipping through the channels when I came upon GL. I thought it was a local school or something making a cheap version of a cheesy soap. I was floored when I realized it was GL. I know enogh about any soap or show to know it's wrong. I feel for the true fans of the show, I would be unable to continue if I was a fan. It got my attention to watch for a couple of minutes for a few days. But when I realized it was not going to be fixed I was shocked and didn't care to wait any more. It's almost silly and weird. If the point is to atract currious viewers,they did,but we don't last very long. The true viewers deserve better than a cheap attempt to be cool. It is quite an insult to modern day tech. Maybe the show can cut cost by firing the producers or who ever made the call for changes.