Amidst the shit storm surrounding Guiding Light’s Natalia finding out she’s pregnant 19 weeks after she and Frank slept together (I know I keep perseverating about the 19 weeks, but 19 weeks and not even a hint? Really?), were a couple of things that caught my eye, in a good way.

     First, as ridiculous as Father Ray’s advice to Natalia – my favorite was Natalia's question about which was worse, loving a woman or having sex outside of marriage (for an Orthodox Jewish rabbi’s take on that question, have a look at the Israeli documentary, Keep Not Silent) – I was happy that TPTB remembered that he and Danny are cousins. So, points for that.

As for the rest of the final Bauer barbeque, there were so many moments. Of course, while it’s called the Bauer barbeque, all of the subtext lay in the interactions between the Spauldings. My favorite: this exchange between Alan and Beth watching Phillip and James in the three-legged race:

 Alan, “It looks like they lost.”  

Beth, “Oh Alan, you don’t see anything, do you?” 

The barbeque only underscored how bittersweet an experience it’s been to watch GL since its cancellation was announced in April. And difficult as it’s going to be to watch between now and September 18th, it’s going to be even more difficult to write about it – and what it could have, and should have, been. So, I fully understand fellow blogger and good friend Patrick Erwin’s decision to close down his blog “A Thousand Other Worlds.” And while I’m honored to be included among the “extraordinarily strong, intelligent voices in the soap blogosphere,” I have a hard time believing that Patrick wouldn’t be able to “find something to say that hasn’t already been said.” But I do understand how emotionally draining it is to have to watch the demise of shows we both love with the dispassion of a commentator. I won’t be alone in missing his humor and insights.        

© 2009 Lynn Liccardo 

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