Great villains like Diane Ballard are what made Guiding Light 1978 to 1983 the incredible show that it was. She was a tour de force back then, as was Roger Thorpe. I always thought they should have "brought" Diane back in some way (twin sister or some such) and had her wreck more havoc in Springfield. She died far too soon. Her killer, Carrie Todd Marler, was a villain in her own right with her crazy split personality, of course. This is the stuff that made GL great...
I absolutely loved watching Diane Ballard!!! I am glad to see this compilation of her amazing work. However, too much music and not enough dialogue from this phenomenal actress! I am truly grateful to see Diane honored in such a special way. Sofia Landon, you are one of the most memorial actresses in daytime tv due to your strong and solid performances. Diane was killed off way too soon!!!! How I miss these wonderful days of soap opera. Nothing can ever compare!!! For us loyal fans, you will relate when I say, “there was a certain special feel about getting all caught up in your soap.” And TV so good that you could hardly sleep because you were so excited, and could hardly wait “TO TUNE IN TOMORROW.” That’s how good the acting and the storylines were!!!
Wow this brings back memories! I started to watch Guiding Light just before she was killed. If I remember correctly. She was killed by a fireplace poker and they had an outline of her body at the foot of the fireplace. I guess this left an impression on me and I watched it until Guiding Light went off the air (sad day).
Marvelous performance by Sofia Landon Geier. As soap villains go, she really wasn't that bad. Seduction, deception, blackmail. (It got so much worse in Daytime). But she did it with such style. Such elan. And with this sense that all she really wanted was to feel secure--and never did. I didn't get to see her much back then, just watched GL here and there. Wish more of her successful seductions were here. I remember her seducing Ben, and you could see she didn't love him--but she wished she did. Very lonely. Looking for something she never found. She was interested in people. But she never had a chance to learn a better way to live. A tragic villain. And the woman who murdered her got off scot-free, so let's not pretend it was about justice. It was about changing up the cast. Personally, I think the writers made a bad choice there.
Diane was one of my all time favorites. Too bad Marland sacrificed the character to help push his pal Jane Elliot’s story. Her final scene with Chris Bernau was Emmy worthy.
I thought Carrie was cleared of her murder because it was shown that no one killed her but that she tripped and fell and hit her head on the fireplace bricks. I wish someone would post the entire trail. That was how to do a soap opera, everyone in Springfield was a suspect because everyone in Springfield wanted her dead. They do not make them like this anymore
When soaps were mostly character-driven. Diane Ballard made quite a splash...and was never (as far as I know...never spoken of again.) Thx for the upload.
Dumb mistake killing her off the biggest problem I always thought with GL is their characters they didn't keep them long way too many good ones and most stay about three to five years and that was it and then they are never mentioned again like they never existed
Great villains like Diane Ballard are what made Guiding Light 1978 to 1983 the incredible show that it was. She was a tour de force back then, as was Roger Thorpe. I always thought they should have "brought" Diane back in some way (twin sister or some such) and had her wreck more havoc in Springfield. She died far too soon. Her killer, Carrie Todd Marler, was a villain in her own right with her crazy split personality, of course. This is the stuff that made GL great...
I absolutely loved watching Diane Ballard!!! I am glad to see this compilation of her amazing work. However, too much music and not enough dialogue from this phenomenal actress! I am truly grateful to see Diane honored in such a special way. Sofia Landon, you are one of the most memorial actresses in daytime tv due to your strong and solid performances. Diane was killed off way too soon!!!! How I miss these wonderful days of soap opera. Nothing can ever compare!!! For us loyal fans, you will relate when I say, “there was a certain special feel about getting all caught up in your soap.” And TV so good that you could hardly sleep because you were so excited, and could hardly wait “TO TUNE IN TOMORROW.” That’s how good the acting and the storylines were!!!
What an actress. We loved her!
I always loved Diane's feminine twist on men's business attire. It was so cool. Very underrated villianess.
Hers was the best murder mystery on daytime tv!
Wow this brings back memories! I started to watch Guiding Light just before she was killed. If I remember correctly. She was killed by a fireplace poker and they had an outline of her body at the foot of the fireplace. I guess this left an impression on me and I watched it until Guiding Light went off the air (sad day).
Marvelous performance by Sofia Landon Geier. As soap villains go, she really wasn't that bad. Seduction, deception, blackmail. (It got so much worse in Daytime).
But she did it with such style. Such elan. And with this sense that all she really wanted was to feel secure--and never did. I didn't get to see her much back then, just watched GL here and there. Wish more of her successful seductions were here. I remember her seducing Ben, and you could see she didn't love him--but she wished she did. Very lonely. Looking for something she never found. She was interested in people. But she never had a chance to learn a better way to live. A tragic villain.
And the woman who murdered her got off scot-free, so let's not pretend it was about justice. It was about changing up the cast. Personally, I think the writers made a bad choice there.
Loved Diane
Diane was one of my all time favorites. Too bad Marland sacrificed the character to help push his pal Jane Elliot’s story. Her final scene with Chris Bernau was Emmy worthy.
Yes, she should have won an Emmy for her portrayal as Diana Ballard. GL should have kept here on the soap!!
Diane looked liked the Wicked Witch of the West. She was one of the best female villains on GL ever although Sonni/Solita gave her a good run.
I thought Carrie was cleared of her murder because it was shown that no one killed her but that she tripped and fell and hit her head on the fireplace bricks. I wish someone would post the entire trail. That was how to do a soap opera, everyone in Springfield was a suspect because everyone in Springfield wanted her dead. They do not make them like this anymore
Diane Ballard is a ode to the pop group the "Supremes', as "Diane" was a member's first name (Diana Ross) and Ballard was Florence's last name!
This is a treat! I wish I were watching when the Spauldings arrived in SF.
I was a kid, but the actors were so enjoyable during this time. As time went on, the show had less likable actors. This Allan was my favorite.
When soaps were mostly character-driven. Diane Ballard made quite a splash...and was never (as far as I know...never spoken of again.) Thx for the upload.
I've been trying to find her last episode, along with Carrie Todd's, for some time now!
Dumb mistake killing her off the biggest problem I always thought with GL is their characters they didn't keep them long way too many good ones and most stay about three to five years and that was it and then they are never mentioned again like they never existed