CBS Turns Off Guiding Light Soap Opera

Some thought CBS's cancellation of Guiding Light soap opera was an April 1st joke, but it's not. CBS has a release in Guiding Light About page that CBS's daytime drama GUIDING LIGHT will broadcast its final episode on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. At the time of its final broadcast, the series will have spanned 72 years and more than 15,700 episodes on television and radio.

""GUIDING LIGHT has achieved a piece of television history that will never be matched; it has crossed mediums, adapted its stories to decades of social change and woven its way through generations of audiences like no other," said Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group. "This daytime icon will always be an indelible part of CBS's history, with a legacy of innovation and reputation for quality and excellence at every step of the way. While its presence will be missed, its contributions will always be celebrated and never be forgotten."

"No show in daytime or prime time, or anytime, has touched so many millions of viewers across so many years as GUIDING LIGHT," said Barbara Bloom, Senior Vice President, Daytime Programs, CBS. "We thank the cast, crew and producers - past and present - who delivered this entertainment institution, the beloved characters and the time-honored stories to our audience every day for seven decades. It's been a privilege to work with such an extraordinarily talented group of people."

You know it's a recession when they cancel Guiding Light. It's been on for 75 years. It is a sure sign of a changing television industry and possibly end of an era. The Guiding light soap opera could keep evolving and changing with our lives, but CBS chose to cancel it.

Guiding light being canceled is not surprising. First because of the recession and second because of the fact that the soap opera is becoming a fading genre.

I am sure there are many stay-at-home people today that may be angry because of the guiding light being canceled. One needs to understand that close to three generations of people grew up with the Guiding Light and now the end of the soap opera makes them very emotional.

The only thing that is a little comforting is that CBS is giving people time until September 18 to get over the fact of the Guiding Light being canceled.