CBS is Turning the Light Off on Guiding Light

CBS's Guiding Light has been around for seven decades starting as a 15 minute radio program in 1937. The first television airing was on June 30, 1952; in the spring of 1967 the daytime drama starting broadcasting in color. A year later the show was double in length to become a 30 minute program. In 1977 CBS made the show a four hour.

Commonly known as a "Soap Opera" due to the connection with famed soap maker Proctor and Gamble, the story of Guiding Light has taken place in the fictional town of Springfield. Filming stopped on August 11th making Springfield a TV ghost town.

Fans will be able to continue watching the Guiding Light until September 18th when the last episode will air. A new version of the old classic game show Let's Make a Deal will replace Guiding Light two weeks later. Wayne Brady will host the new version of the game show.

Daytime dramas have seen their viewership decrease over the past couple of decades. First with the increase in their main audience, women, going to work outside of the house keeping them from being home when the shows air. Also with the increase channels on cable and satellite services offer more options, viewers have more to select from than they ever have.

The fate of Guiding Light may become the future of other long running daytime dramas. NBC's Days of Our Lives is possibly the next show to hearing the word "cancelled." The show has been struggling and only has a contract through September 2010.

Fans of Guiding Light and the other soap opera shows will be able to watch the daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday, August 30th to see if their favorite stars win another honor.

The final days are upon the Guiding Light. After September 18th, fans will no longer get to watch the daytime drama they have been able to enjoy for 57 years.