Guiding Light is Cancelled!

[USS Triumphant]

I know this isn't the usual fare here, and I haven't watched it in quite a while, myself. (I was home from school sick a lot growing up and ended up watching whatever my mother had on the TV. But I've had a day job for quite a while.) But dood! WTF?!

I had to check several news sites to make sure this wasn't a April Fool's prank. Wow. Seventy-two years.

 

[miraclefan]

I didn't even know this show existied!

 

[kitkat]

Yeah, I saw this today. Crazy. I started watching when I was a kid and my grandma watched it, I would stay with her some during the summers. I watched for a long time but I believe it's been 17-ish years since I've seen it. I even remember the stories that were going on when I quit watching.

 

[bigdaddy]

Good.

 

[Daneel]

Not terribly surprising. I don't watch it, but from what I understand, it's been the lowest-rated daytime drama for awhile now.

Actually, all the daytime soap operas have lost significant viewership in the past few years -- it would appear that the genre was largely a 20th-century phenomenon. I'd imagine that with less stay-at-home wives and mothers in this day and age, the core, target audience just isn't around much during the airtime.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Just a Soap Opera, it on when I'm at work so I don't care
FYI for those who care.
Long Running Guiding Light is Cancelled

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I believe this show started on radio, before there TV even existed. I don't watch it and never have, but I'm still a bit sad to see it go. It's like an institution on daytime TV.

 

[JonathonWally]

I'm all about General Hospital, so I'm ok.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

" At the time of its final broadcast, the series will have spanned 72 years and more than 15,700 episodes on television and radio."

Now there is a DVD box set that will set you back.

 

[rac76]

I'm all about General Hospital, so I'm ok.

I grew up watching this and One Life to Live. Sometimes I watched All My Children, but no longer do I watch soap operas. I think that there is enough drama in my personal life,and in the world that I just don't want to watch it on television. I just don't care about the characters that the writers try to write about.

It's sad to hear that a show that's been on the air that long is finally leaving the airwaves, but all things must come to an end sometime.

 

[Trippy]

I haven't watched soaps in years, but Guiding Light was my favourite. It inspired me to write continuing stories of the character's lives in my grade 10 math class

Sorry to see this, a piece of entertainment/media history.

Is Corination Street the next longest? I still watch that one

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Great! This means that more crap like the Judge shows-The People's Court, Judge Mills, Judge Judy, Divorce Court-will now be on the airwaves in Guiding Light's slot to stink up the airwaves more.

Although I don't watch soap operas, now I can say that I wish that the show was still on, and I regret it's going off of the air. I wish that they could fill up Guiding Light's timeslot with new versions of old game shows instead, or maybe reruns of classic shows (or give the timeslot to stations to fill with local public affairs programing!) but I know that the timeslot will be more likely filled with infomercials and tabloid TV like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich.

I think, and I wish, that some old games shows be brought back and put into production in Guiding Light's timeslot, or maybe a new soap opera. How about-Love Of Life! Or Edge Of Night! Or Classic Concentration! Or maybe some old cartoons....heck, anything's better than what will take up Guiding Light's timeslot.

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Is Corination Street the next longest? I still watch that one

CoronationStreet is the proper pronounciation.

And yeah, it probably is.

 

[Starbreaker]

Maybe Syfy will pick it up like they did with Passions.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Guiding Light has been a guilty pleasure of mine since junior high school. I remember watching Reva jumping into the fountain at the country club. For me it was never Luke/Laura; it was always Quint/Nola. From 3pm to 4pm every day, I would get on the phone with my best friend in high school and we would eat a snack and start our homework all while watching and discussing that day's episode of Guiding Light. (Maybe that is why my father put in call-waiting as soon as the service was introduced. )

Over the years I've gone through months, even years at a time where I wouldn't watch it then I would pick it back up again. Currently, I've been watching the episodes online off the CBS website with my morning coffee and breakfast after the kids are off to school. I'm a little sad to see it go.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[RobertScorpio]

Not terribly surprising. I don't watch it, but from what I understand, it's been the lowest-rated daytime drama for awhile now.

Actually, all the daytime soap operas have lost significant viewership in the past few years -- it would appear that the genre was largely a 20th-century phenomenon. I'd imagine that with less stay-at-home wives and mothers in this day and age, the core, target audience just isn't around much during the airtime.

No...what went wrong with soaps is that they decided to aim their shows only at the teen-set. In the past, on my show GENERAL HOSPITAL for example, they would mix action and adventure...

now?? Its all gangsters and dark and dreary characters with absolutely no hope. Luke and Laura, and my name sake Robert Scorpio, brought fun and excitement to the genre. Now, when I happen to pass by General Hosptial, its like watching SORPANOS performed by a high-school acting class..

Rob

 

[BRG]

I have no idea what this show is, but it made the news over here that it has been axed after over 70 years on air.

To be running for 72 years, and making the jump from radio to television, that is some acceivment, even for a cheap daytime soap. Especially in the cut throat world of American TV.

It's sad that it has to end. But you would have thought they could have kept it running for another 3 years, get to that magic 75th anniversary before bowing out.

Still it has set some target. Beat 72 Corrie!
BRG

 

[Aragorn]

72 years? That's gonna be a really big complete series DVD box set!

 

[Whoa Nellie]

72 years? That's gonna be a really big complete series DVD box set!

That was a good giggle.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[Mike Farley]

72 years? That's gonna be a really big complete series DVD box set!

I'm waiting for the Blu-ray set. But I'll but it used to save a few bucks.