The end is near for Guiding Light - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-28-2009, 10:29 PM

It was hardly amusing to Guiding Light fans when CBS announced on April Fool's Day that it had opted not to renew the long-running soap. Now, nearly four months later, comes official word that the show will not continue on another network. Guiding Light will go dark for good in September.

Television's longest-running scripted program will go off the air for good in September. Though the news seemed more and more inevitable with each passing day, Guiding Light fans will undoubtedly still be devastated by the official announcement that the show will not find life on another network.

"We promised our fans we would do everything we could to find a new home for the show. In the ensuing months, we have engaged in serious discussions with many networks, leaving no stone unturned in our effort to place the show elsewhere," Brian T. Cahill, senior vice-president of TeleNext Media, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, despite the urgent and dedicated efforts of many people, we have not been able to secure an outlet to carry the show moving forward. We are extremely disappointed with this outcome, but we are confident we have exhausted every possible option."

The official announcement comes nearly four months after CBS announced that it was pulling the plug on the 72-year-old soap opera. CBS's decision to end Guiding Light reportedly blindsided many of the show's behind-the-scenes talent, who had been led to believe that the show would be renewed for another year.

The show underwent a dramatic transformation in February 2008 that completely reinvented the show's production model. Guiding Light began shooting roughly a third of its scenes outside of a television studio. New sets were constructed to give the fictional Springfield a more "real world" feel. Salaries were slashed and the budget was slashed across the board. In the end, however, the changes were not enough to make the show profitable to CBS.

TeleNext Media, the production arm of consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, vowed to leave no stone unturned in its effort to find a new home for Guiding Light and, possibly, As the World Turns. Those talks reportedly included Lifetime, a cable channel that caters to women.

However, a report surfaced last month in a trade magazine that asserted that Guiding Light was intentionally run into the ground because Procter & Gamble wanted to get out of the television business and focus on its core money-making products like Tide, Mr. Clean, and Cover Girl cosmetics. There have also been other published reports that have questioned if TeleNext ever engaged in talks with other networks.

"While it's hard to imagine GL coming to an end, we're so very proud of the amazing feat the show has accomplished with an unprecedented 72 years on radio and television," Cahill continued. "The show has made an indelible mark on broadcast history that likely will never be repeated. We'd like to thank all the members of the cast and crew who have brought Springfield to life for the past seven decades."

During the time when Guiding Light was being shopped around, fans became personally invested in finding a way to keep the show on the air. Fans staged rallies outside of CBS and Lifetimes offices, flooding the networks with phone calls, and urged anyone who would listen to "Keep the Light Shining."

But even the most ardent supporters soon saw the light flicker. Last week, Guiding Light announced that it would be donating its entire wardrobe to a New York-based charity that helps economically disadvantaged women find employment. At least two of the show's top stars have announced that they'd found jobs on other daytime drama series and more are expected to make announcements at any time. The fans' efforts, however, were not unappreciated.

"We continue to appreciate our fans around the world and are grateful for their unwavering support of the show. We hope our viewers will continue to tune in to be entertained and touched by the drama, the love and the family that is GL."

Guiding Light will tape its final episodes during the week of August 3. The show, which aired its first episode on June 30, 1952, will air its final episode on September 18, 2009.

http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2...-cancelled.php

Mr. Television · 07-28-2009, 10:47 PM

It would be nice if they brought back a lot of the old actors for the final episode and not end the show with a cliffhanger. R.I.P. Guiding Light. Thanks for all the memories.

Marvo301 · 07-28-2009, 10:58 PM

Yet another nail in the coffin of the soap opera genre.

catlover79 · 07-28-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

It would be nice if they brought back a lot of the old actors for the final episode and not end the show with a cliffhanger. R.I.P. Guiding Light. Thanks for all the memories.

Beautifully put, Sonny.

Schmoopie · 07-29-2009, 01:19 AM

I've never watched a soap that actually came to an end, although I've read that Days might suffer the same fate someday. I watched GL a few times with my best friend when she was hooked and it's sad that the soap that started it all is now coming to an end. Lots of memories, though.

Andrea

JT · 07-29-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

It would be nice if they brought back a lot of the old actors for the final episode and not end the show with a cliffhanger. R.I.P. Guiding Light. Thanks for all the memories.

They're bringing back a few people, mostly people from the early 90s who still have ties with the current characters. The most exciting return that I've read about is Maureen Garrett's return as Holly, a character who has been around since 1970. Maureen's been playing her off and on since 1976.

catlover79 · 07-29-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I've never watched a soap that actually came to an end, although I've read that Days might suffer the same fate someday. I watched GL a few times with my best friend when she was hooked and it's sad that the soap that started it all is now coming to an end. Lots of memories, though.

Andrea

I predict Days will be the next to go. Mark my words.

MickeyMac · 07-29-2009, 06:05 PM

Whats the most saddest is that the quality of this show is not improving at all. For the last two years its been almost unwatchable, considering that this was such a great great show.

I too would like to see some past cast members return, but they should go back further than the 90's.

MickeyMac · 07-29-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I predict Days will be the next to go. Mark my words.

Sadly you may be right. With As The World Turns rising in the rating, Days has sanked almost to the bottom. GL is in last place right now.

Mr. Television · 07-29-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

They're bringing back a few people, mostly people from the early 90s who still have ties with the current characters. The most exciting return that I've read about is Maureen Garrett's return as Holly, a character who has been around since 1970. Maureen's been playing her off and on since 1976.

That's good to know. They should have Ed and some of the real old characters back too. It would be nice if they had some flashbacks as well. CBS probably won't even acknowledge the event.

Mr. Television · 07-29-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Whats the most saddest is that the quality of this show is not improving at all. For the last two years its been almost unwatchable, considering that this was such a great great show.

I too would like to see some past cast members return, but they should go back further than the 90's.

I was a faithful watcher from about 1982-1998. I've only seen a few episodes since then so I can tell the quality has really fallen. It's a shame. It was such a great soap at one time. I started to watch the soap regularly with my mom when I was in HS. We'd watch it as soon as I got home from school. I know that she had watched it since the 1950's. I remember it being on when I was just a little kid. I remember seeing it on our small black and white TV along with Secret Storm and Search for Tomorrow...two other soaps that have long since died. The show actually premiered on Radio the year my Mom was born. It was like she grew up with the show. She died in 2002 and now Guilding Light is gone too. I guess that's life. Nothing last forever.

catlover79 · 07-29-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Whats the most saddest is that the quality of this show is not improving at all. For the last two years its been almost unwatchable, considering that this was such a great great show.

I too would like to see some past cast members return, but they should go back further than the 90's.

I really think the beginning of the end was the detestable firing of Michael Zaslow. They deserved every bit of the bad PR they got for it. He only won an Emmy and was the most popular villain they ever had. (My grandfather also died of ALS, so this issue is very close to my heart).

catlover79 · 07-29-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

That's good to know. They should have Ed and some of the real old characters back too. It would be nice if they had some flashbacks as well. CBS probably won't even acknowledge the event.

I think I read that Ed (Peter Simon) IS coming back.

MickeyMac · 07-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think I read that Ed (Peter Simon) IS coming back.

I think he is already back.

Mr. Television · 07-29-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I really think the beginning of the end was the detestable firing of Michael Zaslow. They deserved every bit of the bad PR they got for it. He only won an Emmy and was the most popular villain they ever had. (My grandfather also died of ALS, so this issue is very close to my heart).

That's when I stopped watching it. It disgusted me. They could have had Roger get the disease and used the show to raise public awareness for it. After all Michael Zaslow did for that show, they owed him a lot more then to fire him like that. They replaced him with that awful actor which the fans never accepted. All the producers thought about was keeping Roger alive. They didn't care about Michael at all.

hno:

07-28-2009, 10:29 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	The end is near for Guiding Light It was hardly amusing to Guiding Light fans when CBS announced on April Fool's Day that it had opted not to renew the long-running soap. Now, nearly four months later, comes official word that the show will not continue on another network. Guiding Light will go dark for good in September. Television's longest-running scripted program will go off the air for good in September. Though the news seemed more and more inevitable with each passing day, Guiding Light fans will undoubtedly still be devastated by the official announcement that the show will not find life on another network. "We promised our fans we would do everything we could to find a new home for the show. In the ensuing months, we have engaged in serious discussions with many networks, leaving no stone unturned in our effort to place the show elsewhere," Brian T. Cahill, senior vice-president of TeleNext Media, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, despite the urgent and dedicated efforts of many people, we have not been able to secure an outlet to carry the show moving forward. We are extremely disappointed with this outcome, but we are confident we have exhausted every possible option." The official announcement comes nearly four months after CBS announced that it was pulling the plug on the 72-year-old soap opera. CBS's decision to end Guiding Light reportedly blindsided many of the show's behind-the-scenes talent, who had been led to believe that the show would be renewed for another year. The show underwent a dramatic transformation in February 2008 that completely reinvented the show's production model. Guiding Light began shooting roughly a third of its scenes outside of a television studio. New sets were constructed to give the fictional Springfield a more "real world" feel. Salaries were slashed and the budget was slashed across the board. In the end, however, the changes were not enough to make the show profitable to CBS. TeleNext Media, the production arm of consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, vowed to leave no stone unturned in its effort to find a new home for Guiding Light and, possibly, As the World Turns. Those talks reportedly included Lifetime, a cable channel that caters to women. However, a report surfaced last month in a trade magazine that asserted that Guiding Light was intentionally run into the ground because Procter & Gamble wanted to get out of the television business and focus on its core money-making products like Tide, Mr. Clean, and Cover Girl cosmetics. There have also been other published reports that have questioned if TeleNext ever engaged in talks with other networks. "While it's hard to imagine GL coming to an end, we're so very proud of the amazing feat the show has accomplished with an unprecedented 72 years on radio and television," Cahill continued. "The show has made an indelible mark on broadcast history that likely will never be repeated. We'd like to thank all the members of the cast and crew who have brought Springfield to life for the past seven decades." During the time when Guiding Light was being shopped around, fans became personally invested in finding a way to keep the show on the air. Fans staged rallies outside of CBS and Lifetimes offices, flooding the networks with phone calls, and urged anyone who would listen to "Keep the Light Shining." But even the most ardent supporters soon saw the light flicker. Last week, Guiding Light announced that it would be donating its entire wardrobe to a New York-based charity that helps economically disadvantaged women find employment. At least two of the show's top stars have announced that they'd found jobs on other daytime drama series and more are expected to make announcements at any time. The fans' efforts, however, were not unappreciated. "We continue to appreciate our fans around the world and are grateful for their unwavering support of the show. We hope our viewers will continue to tune in to be entertained and touched by the drama, the love and the family that is GL." Guiding Light will tape its final episodes during the week of August 3. The show, which aired its first episode on June 30, 1952, will air its final episode on September 18, 2009. http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2...-cancelled.php
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

07-28-2009, 10:47 PM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	It would be nice if they brought back a lot of the old actors for the final episode and not end the show with a cliffhanger. R.I.P. Guiding Light. Thanks for all the memories.
	__________________ Sonny

07-28-2009, 10:58 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Yet another nail in the coffin of the soap opera genre.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

07-29-2009, 01:19 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I've never watched a soap that actually came to an end, although I've read that Days might suffer the same fate someday. I watched GL a few times with my best friend when she was hooked and it's sad that the soap that started it all is now coming to an end. Lots of memories, though. Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-29-2009, 06:05 PM	#8
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Whats the most saddest is that the quality of this show is not improving at all. For the last two years its been almost unwatchable, considering that this was such a great great show. I too would like to see some past cast members return, but they should go back further than the 90's.