It's kinda ridiculous, because even if the replaced soaps with game shows, they would still be losing money and nobody would be watching it anyway... so why not sontinue airing GL? if not they should just shut down CBS daytime completely
Unfortunately, the whole soap opera genre is diminishing for less costly, non-scripted programing -- reality TV ....Change is wicked sometimes. GL as well as ATWT will be sadly missed. These two shows have been as much a part of our culture as their sponsors, Folgers Coffee or Tide Detergent.
@soap1919jt I read up on P&G's reason for discontinuing the Guiding Light. It wasn't because of reality shows. It was because most of the audience for this show shifted to the internet and social networking. They are selling soap and coffee to us, the audience...and here we are on the internet now. It is sad to see it end but their decision was due to consumer's behavior changing. Four generations of women in my family followed this starting with radio, and we miss it.
@MeredithWaters Hello Meridith - While what you're saying is very true, reality TV does, in fact have a strong influence on the reasoning behind GL's cancellation, as well as the diminishing genre of soaps collectively. Reality TV may not be the primary reason, but it does have a strong influence. Several of the soaps have been replaced with the less expensive, non-scripted programing, which is what a reality TV is.
@soap1919jt Yes, reality TV has had a vast influence all TV programming. Proctor and Gamble said that their soap-buying audience had shifted, a study found that even women who were still at home in the daytime were on Facebook and YouTube rather than on TV. Well here we are. GL's audience, diverse as we are, on YouTube. P&G's goal has always been to reach us, but our focus changed during the advent of the internet. GL got too expensive. We should have kept our tradition of watching and buying!
P.S. - during the cancellation period, viewers threatened to boycott P&G products. We should have instead had an all out GL daily vigil and P&G buying fest. Remember you can now watch the whole Jeva/Annie storyline with nary a P&G commercial on YouTube. The point is, it's our fault, for being on our computers more than TV. We can't blame P&G. GL could have survived if not outlasted reality TV too.
People Call Les Moonves and let him know you are not happy about Guiding Lights cancelation . Please call and ask to leave a message about it 212-975-4321
Don't blame CBS for getting rid of a very low rated, badly produced show. And yes, if PRICE starts to draw low ratings it too would need to be shelved for something more profitable. These are business decisions. Sad, but true. I would have loved for GL to have gotten back on its feet and gone forward -- but the best executives were not in charge of that show, and the ones that were OBVIOUSLY did not have a clue what they were doing -- and beyond that -- refused to change course.
@TimsDale4ever I agree. A bunch of morons took over much of soapdom, in the not too distant past, and have put the whole genre in a perpetual, if not permanent tailspin.
"THE GUIDING LIGHT" continued as a radio AND TV serial (broadcast at different times, with the cast performing the same day's script) from 1952 until '56. Procter & Gamble continues to sponsor the series [with "participating sponsors"] and retains ownership, but of course, it's VERY different from what was seen here.
@classicGL I thought the show continued to be focused on clergy until the 1960's, when it then became a "run of the mill" daytime soap.
I didn't see the finale, but I heard a rumor that a minister character appeared in the final episodes as a salute to the early format. Reportdely, he put in place a "happy ending".
@zekepig And it continued to have a lot of ministers on with religious emphasis all the way up to near the end of 1953. That seemed to drop off from 1954 when the show's stories started becoming much more secular in nature -- at least until the last three years of the show, 2007 to 2009.
I wasn't even born when this was broadcast. I remember laughing when Carol Burnett did a spoof of As The World Turns calling it As The Stomach Turns, and on the PBS Kids show called Zoom, they used to do a parody called As The World Zooms which focused on a group of people who lived and worked in a Hotel.
Can you buy episodes of GL somewhere??
vegasmom28 5 months ago
It's kinda ridiculous, because even if the replaced soaps with game shows, they would still be losing money and nobody would be watching it anyway... so why not sontinue airing GL? if not they should just shut down CBS daytime completely
BestFilmExpert 8 months ago
GL jumped the shark when they dropped the 'The' from The Guiding Light!
WatchVenusSpa 9 months ago
My mom says she used to watch this and it was one of her favorites.
Brieanna27 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This is the best film in the world
Diretto18 1 year ago
Announcer: Do you wash your clothes?
Beulah: Yes I duz.
clevelandphil 1 year ago
Unfortunately, the whole soap opera genre is diminishing for less costly, non-scripted programing -- reality TV ....Change is wicked sometimes. GL as well as ATWT will be sadly missed. These two shows have been as much a part of our culture as their sponsors, Folgers Coffee or Tide Detergent.
soap1919jt 1 year ago
@soap1919jt I read up on P&G's reason for discontinuing the Guiding Light. It wasn't because of reality shows. It was because most of the audience for this show shifted to the internet and social networking. They are selling soap and coffee to us, the audience...and here we are on the internet now. It is sad to see it end but their decision was due to consumer's behavior changing. Four generations of women in my family followed this starting with radio, and we miss it.
MeredithWaters 9 months ago
@MeredithWaters Hello Meridith - While what you're saying is very true, reality TV does, in fact have a strong influence on the reasoning behind GL's cancellation, as well as the diminishing genre of soaps collectively. Reality TV may not be the primary reason, but it does have a strong influence. Several of the soaps have been replaced with the less expensive, non-scripted programing, which is what a reality TV is.
soap1919jt 9 months ago
@MeredithWaters Oops! Sorry for misspelling your name!
soap1919jt 9 months ago
@soap1919jt Yes, reality TV has had a vast influence all TV programming. Proctor and Gamble said that their soap-buying audience had shifted, a study found that even women who were still at home in the daytime were on Facebook and YouTube rather than on TV. Well here we are. GL's audience, diverse as we are, on YouTube. P&G's goal has always been to reach us, but our focus changed during the advent of the internet. GL got too expensive. We should have kept our tradition of watching and buying!
MeredithWaters 9 months ago
P.S. - during the cancellation period, viewers threatened to boycott P&G products. We should have instead had an all out GL daily vigil and P&G buying fest. Remember you can now watch the whole Jeva/Annie storyline with nary a P&G commercial on YouTube. The point is, it's our fault, for being on our computers more than TV. We can't blame P&G. GL could have survived if not outlasted reality TV too.
MeredithWaters 9 months ago
People Call Les Moonves and let him know you are not happy about Guiding Lights cancelation . Please call and ask to leave a message about it 212-975-4321
Puertoricanlips 2 years ago
i love you irna phillips
travis082185 2 years ago 2
CBS announced today, 4/1/09, that GL will end its 72-year run on September 18th.
RIP Guiding Light - 1937-2009
OceanKingNY 2 years ago 7
It is a shame that CBS cancelled Guiding Light. What are they going to cancel next, Price is Right?
gooffbball 2 years ago
Don't blame CBS for getting rid of a very low rated, badly produced show. And yes, if PRICE starts to draw low ratings it too would need to be shelved for something more profitable. These are business decisions. Sad, but true. I would have loved for GL to have gotten back on its feet and gone forward -- but the best executives were not in charge of that show, and the ones that were OBVIOUSLY did not have a clue what they were doing -- and beyond that -- refused to change course.
TimsDale4ever 2 years ago 3
@TimsDale4ever I agree. A bunch of morons took over much of soapdom, in the not too distant past, and have put the whole genre in a perpetual, if not permanent tailspin.
soap1919jt 9 months ago
The longest running continuous story in the history of mankind. That's quite a feat.
japstoryeditor 3 years ago 7
"THE GUIDING LIGHT" continued as a radio AND TV serial (broadcast at different times, with the cast performing the same day's script) from 1952 until '56. Procter & Gamble continues to sponsor the series [with "participating sponsors"] and retains ownership, but of course, it's VERY different from what was seen here.
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
Great show! I'm lucky enough to have 2 complete episodes in my DVD collection, very smart show, I just wish more 50's-era episodes survived!
iLoveClassicTV 3 years ago
The title sounds more appropriate for a religious program than for a soap opera. Just wondering, was the story line centered around a minister?
zekepig 3 years ago 2
When the show began in 1937 (on radio), it was focused on a minister and his family.
classicGL 3 years ago
@classicGL I thought the show continued to be focused on clergy until the 1960's, when it then became a "run of the mill" daytime soap.
I didn't see the finale, but I heard a rumor that a minister character appeared in the final episodes as a salute to the early format. Reportdely, he put in place a "happy ending".
altfactor 8 months ago
@zekepig Soaps in those years used organ music a lot, if you were referring to the music.
PcolaSteve4234 1 year ago
@zekepig And it continued to have a lot of ministers on with religious emphasis all the way up to near the end of 1953. That seemed to drop off from 1954 when the show's stories started becoming much more secular in nature -- at least until the last three years of the show, 2007 to 2009.
TheWhatsinaname 1 year ago
Comment removed
DarthSnoopy96 1 year ago
@zekepig
this would make an excellent Tea Party or Republican Party theme, yes?
DarthSnoopy96 6 seconds ago
DarthSnoopy96 1 year ago
@DarthSnoopy96 Moron
MervynCruddy 1 year ago
wasn't this a year after GL went to television??
YRfreak101 3 years ago
Yes sweetie. It actually debuted on June 20, 1952, which was co-incidentally that "Toast Of The Town" aka The Ed Sullivan Show debuted in 1948.
laminage 3 years ago
GL actually premiered on tv on June 30, 1952.
RIP but it's long past time ... GL was never going to be again what it once was. Sad.
staytunedfor 2 years ago
the organ music is so hypnotising
travis082185 4 years ago
i would prefer this opening to the curent ones which stinks up to high heaven
travis082185 4 years ago
I would prefer a black screen with no writing at all to the current opening.
firmingitup 4 years ago
I would prefer a black screen with no writing at all to the current opening.
firmingitup 4 years ago
I wasn't even born when this was broadcast. I remember laughing when Carol Burnett did a spoof of As The World Turns calling it As The Stomach Turns, and on the PBS Kids show called Zoom, they used to do a parody called As The World Zooms which focused on a group of people who lived and worked in a Hotel.
laminage 3 years ago
@travis082185 And a bit eerie, too!
soap1919jt 9 months ago