Confirmed: “Guiding Light” Cancelled–Series Finale Sept. 18

April 1st, 2009 by Castina

CBS has pulled the plug on television’s longest-running daytime drama.

After years of declining rates, Guiding Light will broadcast its series finale on Sept. 18, The New York Times has learned.

The 72-year-old soap opera, produced by Procter & Gamble, first aired as a radio sho in 1937. It was adapted for television in 1952 and has had a home on the small screen ever since.

CBS is expected to replace Guiding Light with a talk show or game show next fall.

R.I.P GL….

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16 Responses to “Confirmed: “Guiding Light” Cancelled–Series Finale Sept. 18”

On April 1st 2009, Will wrote:

I’m not at all surprised to hear that the “grande dame” of Soaps is finally being canceled. I began watching “GL” in 1991, when I was first married. My wife & her sister (who ironically died this year), were fans of the show. I was into it up until the San Cristobal storyline w/Reva and her past life w/Jeffrey, etc. I hated it too when Beth’s former husband (not Philip but the other guy) died in the house fire. I think between the time slot it was put on (10am EST in this market), people either working, or busy trying to find work, and the daily devotion it would take to watch a 5 day per week serialized program, along with so-called “reality” tv, and the entire genre seems almost stale, almost obsolete, almost irrelevant anymore. Every conceivable (and many inconceivable) storylines have been done, time and time again, and there’s nothing left. Same storylines, just different actors and character names is all. Gets very bland after so long. So long to you Guiding Light. Amazing to think my parents were toddlers when it debuted on radio back in ‘37.
On April 2nd 2009, Lyn Feldgarden wrote:

Wow…I used to listen to it on the radio when I was a child, and was so very excited when it came to TV wilth Meta Bauer, Papa Bauer and the rest. I still watch it, and it breaks my heart to see it go. Do they include recordings that we make in their ratings? I will NOT watch anything they put in place of it. I will watch movies instead, and even catch up on my DVD’s. As for talk shows, I prefer to watch the late night talk shows, and as for game shows….well neither of these venues can replace drama, so as I saide..Movies will be my choice..So when September rolls around, my DVD’s will finally get unwrapped, and watched. Whatever you put on in GL’s place will never be satisfactory to me.
On April 4th 2009, Stacie Paulson wrote:

I loved watching this show in 94. It became my fav at the time. As of the last few years, the background realistic like made it look cheaply made. Like someone used a home camera to film it. I stopped watching it because it wasn’t the same. I will miss it for what it use to be.
On April 14th 2009, Tiffany wrote:

I cant believe this! I love that show. I watch it ALL the time with my grandma. My great grandma (92) has been with the show since it aired on the radio. Nothing they replace GL with will EVER be satisfactory!
On April 30th 2009, Mary wrote:

I just CANNOT believe it! The death of Guiding Light will be a death in my family! I’ve been watching for over 30 years, and there’s always been comfort in knowing I can turn on the TV at 2 pm and hang with my peeps! The sense of loss I’m feeling is really quite painful. I was there when Phillip was born! I was there when Ed & Rita got engaged! I was there when Roger kidnapped Holly & little Christina (Blake), and ultimately went over a cliff, (only to somehow return from the dead years later, in that amazing soap opera fashion we’re all so familiar with) I’m devestated, and so so sad! Please isn’t there some other way? Please don’t cancel my GL!! Isn’t there some other way??
On May 14th 2009, Jana Romeo wrote:

I dont hardly watch any T.V Over the years I have watched guiding light whenever I was not working..Sometimes for months or years when the kids were small ,sometimes jjust here and there. Enough to know Harley ,since highschool,when Frank was raising her in her big earrings and black leather jacket. Beth when her father was in the pic. Rick ,Phillip,Lou Jack. Harley when she was helping Josh with the kids.
Reva and Vanessa fighting in the Bathroom. It was great to see Phillip back. Love Phillip.
That latest nut job Edmond.. Saw him steel the Bauer baby as well. Chilling!
My son and I actually were able to bond over the whole Jonathan ,Reva thing. My son was being a little rat at the time and we watched it everyday after homeschool for awhile.I was so disappointed when I heard they were cancelling!!!
wow all the crap on tv . All the cops ,robbers, murder and reality shows and there taking this off the air. Very disappointed. I do love this show it makes me laugh and scream!!!l lol So may good thngs about it. Really. I do wish they would reconsider.Put it on at night that would even be better!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I know these guys
I LOVE ALL OF THEM THEY ARE EXCELLENT AND I WILL FOREVER MISS THEM. PROBABLY GET MORE DONE THOUGH!!! IWILL NOT BE WATCHING ANY TALK SHOW OR OTHERWISE DURING THAT HOUR!!!!!
On May 14th 2009, Jackie wrote:

I can NOT believe they are cancelling Guiding Light. What are CBS and Proctor and Gamble thinking. Especially P&G, they have products that fans can boycott, and I am going to do just that. If they can’t support my favorite show then I don’t have to buy their products. I THINK ALL GL FANS SHOULD STAND UP AND DO THE SAME!!
On June 25th 2009, Rona wrote:

I am 62 and have been watch GL since I was a child, coming home for lunch from elementary school and watching for 15 minutes. My late grandmother,who lost her sight, listened to the show and would recognize that characters by their voices. When I was in high school and college and couldn’t watch the daily episodes, I would call Grangma and she would fill me in on the show. I grew up with Reva, Josh, the Bauers, the Spaldings, their children, relatives and friends. This is a loss for the viewing regulars.
On July 4th 2009, Kim Darville wrote:

It’s really too bad ” the powers that be” cannot see beyond their own square box. Guiding Light is an institution. It’s been around from the beginning. I’ve been to many websites and read so many comments of how this showed has been with so many different people. How can you end something so wonderful to so many people? And you are going to replace it with what? A meager game show that will likely last a season or two? Perhaps another ridiculous reality show? What are you thinking? Can you not dig down into your souls and find some way to keep this show going? Why not scale it back to a half hour? The Bold and the Beautiful has been going for 20 years as a half hour show and done well. You people are the brains-you’ve got the degrees think of something! Save this show. I gave up on tv about 5 years ago. In my opinion reality tv is crap and the rest of it is more of the same CSI garbage and the like. There is nothing to choose from. Guiding Light (and the other soaps for sure) gives people a place to escape to. It’s ENTERTAINING! It does not way heavy on your heart or leave you depressed when it’s over. HIre new executives with fresh ideas. Don’t extinguish it’s “light”! Please find a way to keep this “monumental institution” on the air. Please. Show us that you can think outside the box. Restore our faith….
On July 16th 2009, Catherine Sinclair wrote:

I was saddened but not surprised to hear Guilding Light is ending. Over thirty years ago, my grandmother introduced my mother and I to trials and perils of the inhabitants of Springfield, the Bauers, Reardons, Spauldings and so many others. The stories were wonderful, the characters (and the actors who played them) became household names. Over the years I would watch on my time off from work or tape the shows so I didn’t miss any important story twists. Unfortunately, the last 4 or so years have been disappointing, story wise. But not the actors, never the actors, they did the best with what they were given. I blame the “powers that be” whoever they are for destroying what was once the best daytime drama. I believe there are still great story writers out there, they just aren’t allowed to tell their stories they way they should be told. My hats off to those writers who have tried to tell their stories and to the actors who brought these wonderful, crazy, sometimes bizarre but always enjoyable stories to life. Phillip, Reva, Josh, Beth and all the inhabitants of Springfield will be missed.
On July 20th 2009, paula wrote:

It seems everything good leaves tv and everything old that was of interest is gone. I wonder with this new day and age how many more good shows we will loose for bs. ones. I will miss this show. It was one thing I had to look forward to when i was home. The end of another era . LIfe is surely changing sometime I wonder if all is for the good though.
On August 20th 2009, Yvette wrote:

Boo Hoo, get used to it . Soon all our beloved soap operas shall cease to exist. The stations give us what the ratings have proven we want. The unrealistic reality shows, the gory crime shows, the unbelievable talk shows (Springer, please) But if we trust the ratings its what most of us want???? Right???? Listen to the song “Dirty Laundry” it tells it like it is. Shame!!!!!!!
On September 14th 2009, TRR wrote:

Sure, like 1.8 million GL viewers are going to watch a game show? The click you hear is everyone changing channels. Newsflash to executives, there are more than three channels now, in fact, hundred’s of them. Many viewers grown up and now at work, tape the show, are they counted in the ratings? Once one goes, they are all fair game. Everyone is just sitting back to see what happens, then they will step up and start pushing buttons on the other soaps. Pretty soon, no one will be watching. What is replacing GL in the Northeast for two weeks until the new game show starts? Why it’s three hours of Price is Right. Another great programing decision….Not.
On September 19th 2009, Kerry mcdowell wrote:

Dear guding light,
My name is kerry mcdowell and I ‘M huge fan of guiding light and i heard that my favorite show was going off the air ? I ‘m asking ya’ll please don’t take my favorite show off of the air . I have been watching guiding light for years and I ‘m not going to give until my favorite show is saved? Guiding ligh is give best storyline ever and guiding light is like my second family? THANKS FOR YA’LL TIME ,
KERRY MCDOWELL
On September 21st 2009, LOUIS wrote:

IT IS VERY SAD THAT THIS LONG TIME SOAP HAS IT’S FINAL DEBUT THIS YEAR. I STARTED WATCHING GL SINCE 1978 AND LOVED ALL IT’S CHARACTERS. THEY HAVE BECOME LIKE FAMILY WHEN WATCHING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. NOW THERE IS A BIG VOID NOT WATCHING REVA, JOSH, MINDY, PHILLIP, BETH AND THE WHOLE GANG. IT WAS GREAT TILL IT LASTED, BUT NOW IT IS A SAD MOMENT. THIS IS LIFE. ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END. SORRY TO SEE IT GO. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE CAST OF GL AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MEMORIES. GOD BLESS YOU. LOUIS
On October 21st 2009, c s wrote:

I have been watching guiding light for over 50 yrs when the Bauer boys were small