Deathwatch: 'The Guiding Light,' 72

[Brad Ferguson]

Sources are telling TV Week that CBS may soon cancel "Guiding Light,"
the longest-running soap opera in TV history. The final decision will
likely be made during the next month. The network's current deal with
producer Procter & Gamble runs through September. The soap's ratings
are abysmal: 0.9 among women 18-49 season-to-date, down 25% in the demo
from last season. A format change in February 2008 has not helped at
all.

The soap began on the NBC Red radio network on 25 January 1937. After
runs in Chicago and Hollywood, production was moved to New York in
1949, where it has remained ever since. It debuted on CBS Television
on 30 June 1952. (The soap was known as "The Guiding Light" until
1975.) Wikipedia informs that the title refers to "a lamp in the study
of Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge, a major character when Guiding Light
debuted in 1937, that family and residents could see as a sign for them
to find help when needed."

BTW, the soap is set in Springfield, no state mentioned.

Tune in tomorrow:

<http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/cbs_shopping_for_light_replace.php>

[Bill Schenley]

... the title refers to "a lamp in the study of Reverend
Dr. John Ruthledge, a major character when Guiding
Light debuted in 1937, that family and residents could
see as a sign for them to find help when needed."
BTW, the soap is set in Springfield, no state mentioned.

I wonder if Dr. Ruthledge lives near Evergreen Terrace ...

[MWB]

The longest running soap opera is the NEW YORK YANKEES.


GO RED SOX

Mark

[Ted]

Later that lamp was turned into a lighthouse which was the symbol of
the show for
a very long time.

What these a-holes don't take into account is that the show does not
air
at the same time across the country like the Number 1 rated "The Young
and
the Restless". "Guiding Light" plays in some parts of the country at 9
or 10am
and others at 2 or 3 pm. Not to mention the places that run it during
the overnight.
P&G has decided to basically stop producing shows they'll cancel
"Guiding Light"
this year and "As the World Turns" next. The executives at the
networks are also
to blame as they keep hiring the same stable of writers and producers.
These people
go to work on one show -- destroy it and its ratings and then move on
to do damage
at other shows on other networks.

It's sad because we are moving away from one-hour shows in both
daytime and primetime --
mostly because of costs. We can look forward to more crap reality
shows and non-scripted
pieces. If cable starts going that way too, then we really will have
achieved the dumbing down
of America.

[R H Draney]

Post by Ted
P&G has decided to basically stop producing shows they'll cancel
"Guiding Light"
this year and "As the World Turns" next.

If they ever get rid of "All My Children", I hope the final episode will reveal
what happened to the vanishing character of Bobby Martin....r

[DavidTanny]

Well, that might happen soon if ABC decides to expand GMA to three hours.

Post by R H Draney

Post by Ted
P&G has decided to basically stop producing shows they'll cancel
"Guiding Light"
this year and "As the World Turns" next.

If they ever get rid of "All My Children", I hope the final episode will reveal
what happened to the vanishing character of Bobby Martin....r

[angela copus]

Post by R H Draney

Post by Ted
P&G has decided to basically stop producing shows they'll cancel
"Guiding Light"
this year and "As the World Turns" next.

If they ever get rid of "All My Children", I hope the final episode will reveal
what happened to the vanishing character of Bobby Martin....r

and i would not be surpised if days of our lives would be cancelled
too. they have gotten rid of their good veteran actors

angela

[Terry del Fuego]

Post by Ted
It's sad because we are moving away from one-hour shows in both
daytime and primetime -- mostly because of costs. We can look
forward to more crap reality shows and non-scripted pieces. If
cable starts going that way too, then we really will have achieved
the dumbing down of America.

Netflix.

[DavidTanny]

Wonder if CBS will give the hour to Univison and program a Telenovela there.

Post by Brad Ferguson
Sources are telling TV Week that CBS may soon cancel "Guiding Light,"
the longest-running soap opera in TV history. The final decision will
likely be made during the next month. The network's current deal with
producer Procter & Gamble runs through September. The soap's ratings
are abysmal: 0.9 among women 18-49 season-to-date, down 25% in the demo
from last season. A format change in February 2008 has not helped at
all.

[DavidTanny]

This could become Surviror: Daytime. Which will be the last soap standing?

Post by DavidTanny
Wonder if CBS will give the hour to Univison and program a Telenovela there.

I don't think so. CBS doesn't seem to want to program daytime at all
anymore; it's even making noises about how disappointed it is with The
Price Is Right, even though TPIR is doing well enough post-Barker, and
its demographics remain very good. I think CBS will expand the morning
news into a third hour and, in exchange, surrender the soap-opera time
to its affiliates. That means you can count on more useless numfuck
judge shows. I think TPIR is safe for now.
CBS' next victim will likely be As the World Turns, which turns 53 on
Thursday.

[Brad Ferguson]

Post by DavidTanny
Wonder if CBS will give the hour to Univison and program a Telenovela there.

I don't think so. CBS doesn't seem to want to program daytime at all
anymore; it's even making noises about how disappointed it is with The
Price Is Right, even though TPIR is doing well enough post-Barker, and
its demographics remain very good. I think CBS will expand the morning
news into a third hour and, in exchange, surrender the soap-opera time
to its affiliates. That means you can count on more useless numfuck
judge shows. I think TPIR is safe for now.

CBS' next victim will likely be As the World Turns, which turns 53 on
Thursday.

[Chuck Kopsho]

My mother used to watch her "Stories" back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
She passed back on New Years Day, 1983. She was hooked on 'em. Never
knew a day when she wasn't watching them. She was a junkie. Too bad that
soaps are going the way of the passenger pigeon. Ah, such is life.

Cheers,
Chuck Kopsho
Oceanside, California