3.01.2008

GL - Beth Ehlers' Response

Beth Ehlers (Harley), Ricky Paull Goldin's costar and close friend, has sent an email to fans replying to Ricky's departure.
Here is what she had to say:

Hello Everyone,

How can we say goodbye to Ricky Paull Goldin?? I know for all of you the idea of "Guiding Light" without "GUS" is unimaginable. For me the idea of "Harley" without "Gus" is unimaginable! 2008 was supposed to be the year of their reconciliation. Ricky and I both anticipated those scenes, to finally get the opportunity to fall in love again . . . for all of you. Obviously, that won't happen now. And it's a tragedy. Please know that I am as saddened, as devastated as all of you. He isn't just the love of Harley's life. He is my best friend. Please send good wishes his way! And maybe in the future, who knows . . . maybe these two people will meet again.

I can only hope . . .

All my love,
Beth Ehlers


This touches my heart so much. I love how close she and Ricky are; it always showed on screen. They will really miss working together and hanging out at the work. It's sad that even they were looking forward to Gus & Harley reuniting. It seems that they love GusH just as much as the fans do. And of course, they love their fans; they knew GusHers haven't been liking the storytelling these past couple months. They wanted to reunite on-screen for the fans, and now that won't happen. It's a devastation for everyone. But like Beth says, who knows what'll happen in the future.

Hopefully we'll get to see Beth and Ricky act together again. I'd be happy to see them together on any show, but it'd be the greatest to see them reunite on GL as Gus & Harley down the line "when" Ricky comes back. They always come back.

GL - Ricky Paull Goldin Announcement

Ricky posted a letter to his fans at Guiding Light's official fan club site confirming his departure from the beloved role of Gus Aitoro. He'll be gone within a few months, I take it.
Here's what he had to say:

To my friends and extended family,

I want you to be one of the first to know that I’m planning on leaving “Guiding Light” when my contract expires in a couple of weeks. “Gus” has been a huge part of my life and I will really miss portraying him and bringing this character to life for you. My seven years on Guiding Light have been a wonderful experience. Now it’s time for a new adventure, a new chapter in my life. I will especially miss working with Beth Ehlers, since it doesn’t get any better than “Gus and Harley.”

Thank you! It means so much to me that you have shown your continued love and support for me and the character of “Gus.” I hope that you will continue to write with your thoughts and ideas. You can still email me at this email address, at least for the next few months.

I am sure that the powers-that-be at Guiding Light would love to hear from you as well. It is always good to let them know how you feel. That, of course, is your right.

You can write to them at:

Guiding Light
CBS-TV
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

I will keep you up to date on my future projects on my website:

www.rickypaullgoldin.com/

I also want to thank you for all the cards and emails that I have received in regards to my father’s passing. It really meant the world to me.

So stay tuned and I’ll be back real soon, just wait and see! It won’t be long!

All my love and deep felt appreciation,
Ricky


He will be missed greatly. Gus & Harley will continue to be missed. I am deeply saddened by this news. GL won't be the same without him or without GusH. I always had hope that Gus & Harley would reunite sometime this year, but those hopes have been shattered. I can only wish for a grand finale for GusH with wonderful goodbye/closure scenes. There needs to be a good conclusion to the Gus/Harley journey.

Rumor has it that Ricky is moving to All My Children to portray Jake Martin.

Favorite Returns

Top 5 Returns

5. All My Children's Jesse & Angie Hubbard - 2008: I'm glad AMC has brought back two characters from so long ago; it's a great way to connect the past and the present. I was born in the 80s, so I didn't get to see this supercouple in their heyday, but I've known of them for quite some time. I'm happy I get to see them in action together and see what I missed out on from their first time around. So far their return has been enjoyable and exciting. I expected TPTB to fudge it up somehow, but that's not the case. I love that their son is the reason for them to be in Pine Valley again and to reconnect. The moment they finally reunited (at the train station) was tear-jerking and memorable. Darnell Williams and Debbie Morgan are quite a match. I can't wait to see Jesse & Angie team up with Tad to take on the men who Jesse has been running from.

4. One Life To Live's Gabrielle Medina - 2001: This was really exciting for me. She had been gone for ten years, and I was too young to watch when she was on. I had known about her and her relationship with Max Holden for a while. I was always intrigued by her and thought I'd like her. So I was glad she returned, and it surprised me. Asa Buchanan had a mystery bride, and it turned out to be Gabrielle! I remember the moment Max lifted the veil, and there she was with her hair extremely short. I saw the sparks between her and Max instantly, but unfortunately, they never were a couple again. I think it was a marriage of convenience between her and Asa, but it's that first moment of her return that made it so notable.

3. All My Children's Maria Santos - 2002: Maria was my favorite character in 1996 and 1997 when I began watching soaps. Her "death" devastated me, but I always hope she would return. And she finally did...five years later. It was really exciting and emotional for me. AMC botched her return completely with that dumb amnesia, "Maureen Gorman" story, but it meant a lot just the fact that she was back. And we all knew she was really Maria; she had to be. It was only a matter of time before her memory came back. I just didn't think it would take so long; she was involved with Aiden and had been with Zach. It was frustrating, but eventually there was a huge payoff. The story became exciting when her memories came flooding back to her. I cried when she reunited & reconnected with Edmund and her children. Maria was finally herself again, and she was back with the love of her life. Because of that, her return was wonderful.

2. General Hospital's Laura Webber - 2006: This was the moment every GH fan was waiting for - Laura to wake up from her catatonic state and reunite with her loved ones. Granted, her return only lasted a month, and now she's back to her state. But it was worth it! I cannot forget when Laura finally "woke up" (so to speak) and was her same old self with Luke, her children, Lesley, and others. It was wonderful to see her with Lulu since the last time they were together, Lulu was still a child. Her time with her children was so special, and I loved how she and Luke reunited immediately. They had such a beautiful wedding; it meant so much to me since I didn't see their unforgettable 1980 wedding. When the catatonia began coming back, it was nice that she wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas before she was gone again. And when Laura had to say goodbye to Nicholas, Lucky, Lulu, and Luke... Wow! That was quite an emotional episode for me and many viewers. I'll never forget Luke saying, "Wherever you are, I'm right there with you." And she was at that famous 1st wedding of theirs. How sweet yet sad. Laura will always be Luke's angel.

1. All My Children's Dixie Cooney - 1998: This was when she returned the first time. She had left Tad, divorced him, and moved to West Virginia with Junior. I didn't get to watch much of her before she left, so I was glad to read about her returning in the summer of 98. And thank God she did! Her return was not momentous, but it lead me to have a new favorite character. I became a Dixie & Cady McClain fan almost instantly, and I'm still a huge fan today. Dixie's story improved as the months went on... When she and Tad got into each other's orbit again, I saw the chemistry and wanted them back together so bad. I became a diehard Tad & Dixie fan, and it seemed like forever for them to get back together. That story was good; it mimicked the movie, An Affair To Remember. They had to meet at the top of a building, but she had health problems that prevented her from showing. It took 3+ months of Tad & Dixie thinking they didn't want to be with each other when they secretly did before Tad FINALLY learned she was sick. And they had a beautiful reunion in New York City. It was an agonizing story, but it was well worth the frustration. It was good storytelling, the best T&D story I think I ever witnessed. And it happened thanks to Dixie (and Cady McClain) returning.