"Guiding Light" Snuffed; CBS Announces Cancellation

“Never give in to the darkness, ’til the dawn”

Hold on.

The recession strikes again. According to the New York Times blog “Artsbeat,” CBS announced the cancellation of the longest-running scripted television show in history, the soap opera "Guiding Light.” The final broadcast is scheduled for September 18, 2009. No size of cash advance will save it.

For those of you who don’t know (myself included), it chronicled “the dramatic story of the close-knit Bauer, Lewis and Spaulding families, residents of the town of Springfield, U.S.A.” Would that be the Simpson’s Springfield, by any chance?

Quite a run

Before moving to CBS television in 1952, “Guiding Light”  had a run on NBC radio that began in 1937. It is the only program to transition from radio to TV.

The ratings monster played a huge role in the decision. Five years ago, the soap opera had 5 million viewers. They’ve lost at least a couple million since then. In order to soften the blow, they had switched the production to an all-digital format with hand held cameras, but it wasn’t enough. Neither was the switch to cheaper permanent four-walled sets. Now a 72-year television institution is turning out the lights. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled ""Guiding Light" Snuffed; CBS Announces Cancellation"