The die was cast today. CBS canceled Guiding Light, the longest running TV program still on the air. The soap opera will cease broadcasting on Friday, September 18, 2009.
As I wrote the other day, the prospects looked grim for Guiding Light, and apparently my idea of letting the show continue until it reached its 75th anniversary (three years from now) was only popular with fans. I heard from many the past couple of days. They, like me, are sorry to see Guiding Light come to an end.
This means the CBS daytime soap presence is down to two and one-half hours, three shows – The Young & the Restless, The Bold & the Beautiful and As the World Turns. ABC still has three one-hour daytime dramas – All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. NBC has only Days of Our Lives remaining. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the soaps are becoming dinosaurs among the daytime landscape. Ten years from now they may all be gone.
Sad to say, but the heyday of the genre is definitely long past. The soaps have never really recovered from the loss of audience suffered during the O.J. Simpson trial, not to mention the plethora of viewing options in daytime that simply didn't exist before expanded cable programming.
To Guiding Light loyal viewers -- and I know you're out there -- my advice is this: enjoy the last five months. I expect Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler to make the most of the time they have left. That should mean more good stuff with Grant Aleksander, as well as this exciting Olivia/Natalia romance. Kim Zimmer will be around for the wrap, not to mention some other faves like Robert Newman and the always brilliant Justin Deas.
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
The Prisoner -- An early look
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-01-2009 @ 3:45PM
Andrew said...
What am I going to do with my 2PM now?
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 4:22PM
Jennifer said...
NOT FAIR! this stinks I am so upset about the cancelation of such a great show. There better be babies and weddings not scandles and funerals, let's go out on a happy note please!
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 4:38PM
daunteculpepper said...
my first instinct to this news is that it is an april fools joke.
and if by some fluke it actually is true, you're all a bunch of idiots for picking april first to make such an announcement. that's like advertising 101. you don't make branding announcements on april first, because no one is going to believe you.
so...
if it's true, you're jerks for announcing it today.
and if it's not true, then everyone who believes you was a jerk for believing such a story on april fools day.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 4:46PM
beverly said...
I'm so sad to see this show go..i have watched this show since i was a very little girl with my mother, I've come to know the characters on guiding light like they were my neighbors and family members..I just can't believe its going to end..I'm in my uhmm..40's..shhhhs.so its been in my life for many years and i watch everyday,,whenever there is another show like sports or political things on that take GL's place for a day or 2 i get a bit cranky sad but true..but the next day when i get my GL fix my world is good...I'm going to be very sad when sept gets here and GL is done,,I can't believe it..but i guess the saying all good things must come to an end is true..sucks ...completely
Reply
4-02-2009 @ 6:55PM
Kaileysmom said...
I am like Beverly, I too grew up watching this show. Unlike watching with my mom, I watched with my dad. We recorded the show and watched in the evening after supper was done. When he died it was hard for me to watch it by myself, now it will feel like Im loosing a part of him all over again.
4-01-2009 @ 4:48PM
K. Kimble said...
I'm so disappointed. This is the one soap that I don't want to miss. If I miss it at the morning time on one station, I watch it in the afternoon on another. These are families that we know, love and identify with. I hope a lot of fans will scream, yell and jump up and down so CBS changes their mind and saves this wonderful program!
PLEASE, we all need to let them know how we feel. This is my first blog about ANYTHING!!
Reply
4-02-2009 @ 12:23PM
Tammy said...
That is crap! Guiding Light has had its ups and downs like every soap, but they have top notch actors and good stories. If they need to cancel a show, why not As The World Turns or Bold and the Beautiful!
I will not watch any more CBS if that is what they want to do to their daytime fans. I work fulltime, but tape Guiding Light everyday so I don't miss an episode!
The network must be nuts!!!
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 4:57PM
Katie said...
I can't imagine not having Guiding Light to tune into each and everyday. I haven't tuned into soaps in a few years (college, new job, etc. that got in the way), but now I schedule my lunch breaks around the show and I will continue to fight for the show, the actors, and my favorite storylines. I hope that CBS will reconsider their decision or that the show is able to find a new home to continue spreading The Light. I have no doubt that the audience will follow the show wherever it should go... it has become can't miss television!
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 4:54PM
DapperDan said...
there goes the lighthouse soap :(
what now ? another half rate daytime talk show, BLAH
another judge / court show, BLAH again
maybe revive a old gameshow like Press your Luck
I miss those Whammies.
Reply
4-02-2009 @ 6:58PM
Kaileysmom said...
probably another damn reality show. Im going to stop watching tv after this or at least cbs.
4-01-2009 @ 5:04PM
Rita said...
I sincerely hope this is an April Fool's joke!! If not, you people have got to be kidding me!! This show is a landmark and a living part of television history. How can you even consider it is just totally beyond me. What a sorry bunch of losers!
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:00PM
Tristan said...
Well, I hate to admit it but I have become increasingly disappointed with the writing lately and the ideas aren't fresh and well written. Just the other day I said, didn't Olivia have a heart transplant? Where's the SCAR!! She wore a very low cut V-neck dress on Friday's show and there was no scar!! Come ON! Did you think we all forgot she's got GUS's heart in there? Things like that have been happening too often on that show. I think they gave up on the show long before the fans did... I kept watching and hoping there would be a turn-a-round. When Grant came back as Philip, I thought, "hey, now maybe we'll start getting some good plots going" but the opportunity came and went. It was okay, but not good enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. 72 years is a long run... wish they could have made it to 75 years but that would be trying my patience too as I was also losing hope and when I was on vacation for a week, I didn't watch the show at all...that's how much I have lost interest...but I still record it everyday and watch it most of them. Now on my dog's birthday, LOL!! on Sept 18th, will be the final curtain call. I sure hope that they at least go out with a bang and not a pin drop.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:00PM
chris said...
Thats not right. I've been watching this for 35 years. It's one of the best out there. In my area, more people were watching when it was in the afternoon, but the talk shows, Dr Phil and Judge Judy messed that up so now its on at 9 am. Thats why the ratings dropped. PLEASE DONT DO THIS. Please try a different time. What about Soapnet in the evenings.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:10PM
Modwild said...
If it makes you feel any better, Proctor & Gamble is not QUITE ready to give up the fight and they are shopping it around for a new outlet. I've watched for as long as I can remember (on and off, admittedly) and am (shhhhhh) in my 40s. Some of my best television memories come from this program, so I hope it will continue the fight to stay alive.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:14PM
Carrie said...
CBS... what is wrong with you?! I cannot believe you cannot pick up "GL" again!! Maybe if you would've kept "GL" at it's 3 pm time slot... the ratings wouldn't of dropped. I'm so disappointed. Words cannot describe! Please reconsider!! There is so much rich history, and such awesome actors! Keep the 'light' burning!!
Reply
4-02-2009 @ 6:56PM
Kaileysmom said...
it is still in the 3 o'clock time slot where I am at.
4-01-2009 @ 5:20PM
MDuncan said...
This is a very sad day. I had just picked my 5 fav TV shows on my facebook. GL was on my list. I've watched this all my life. My mom and I used to watch a certain iconic ABC soap, but decades ago, when it was slotted opposite of the Guiding Light, we stopped watching it, choosing the Bauer Clan and the happenings in Springfield over that hospital drama.
I am the same age as Phillip, Beth, Mindy and Rick. (actually I'm the graduating year before them. I've watched since way before that. I remember Morgan at Laurel Falls.
I will miss this show so much. :(
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:20PM
Brittany said...
All I can say is THIS STINKS! I record(DVR) Guilding Light and As the World Turns everyday and everynight I watch them.....I want to cry. Is there anything we can do to stop this?
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:26PM
ginger mat said...
been watching this since I was 12 ---now 54---major drag--shame on CBS.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 5:28PM
Steve said...
This is ridiculous. This is the best show around. I agree with all those comments before mine. There is nothing on but stupid talk shows, reality shows, judge shows. Your making a mistake. I've been ready to change networks for a while. cbs has always been my favorite especially the soaps. This will do it for me. Going to another network away from cbs if they take this off. Please don't do it CBS. Think about what you are doing. You said in your article that it's only popular with the fans. ISN'T THAT WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. I am screaming inside about this. If your taking something off, take off the bold and beautiful. The storyline never changes and its only 1/2 hour.
Reply