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Adalian Column: CBS Could Benefit From Making the Tough Call on ‘Light’

Apr 3, 2009  •  Post A Comment

If there were a “Profiles in Courage” for network executives, it would probably be a pretty thin tome.
Guiding Light
After all, the folks who run TV outlets, broadcast and cable alike, usually aren’t inclined to go out on a limb when making decisions. And it’s hard to blame them, since in most corporations, the only thing worse than failing is defying conventional wisdom … and failing anyway.
Nobody remembers when a standard-issue police drama like “Ryan Caulfield” fades away after a handful of episodes. But greenlight something as audacious as Steven Bochco’s “Cop Rock” and you’ll never hear the end of it.
So that’s why CBS’ decision last week to end its iconic soap opera “Guiding Light” was so stunning. Because while the 2 million or so people who still watch the show every day will surely disagree, CBS actually made the brave call by choosing to turn off “Light.”
Even though the show was a clear ratings loser—down 25% in the last year alone—“Light” was not a prohibitively expensive production for CBS. And Leslie Moonves has far bigger problems on his hands right now than a low-rated soap opera.
By canceling “Light,” CBS risks the wrath of the loyal soap audience, a group whose loyalty makes “Jericho” and “Moonlight” die-hards seem almost casual in their devotion. Some of the wackier voices in the soaps blogosphere have already predicted CBS’ decision will prompt a domino effect, with other daytime dramas falling faster as a result of “Light’s” demise.
Living with the last-place soap for a few years would have been a lot easier than dealing with the teeth-gnashing and hair-pulling CBS executives will face in the weeks, months and decades to come.
What’s more, there’s no guarantee that whatever CBS puts on in “Light’s” place will draw better ratings. It almost certainly will be more profitable, but CBS’ overall daytime average could very well suffer.
Despite these downsides, CBS engaged in an admirable bit of Band-Aid ripping by sending “Light” to soap opera heaven.
Guiding Light
Without having to worry about promoting “Light,” CBS can focus its energies on its three remaining soaps, all of which could use some extra hype. NBC’s decision to get rid of “Passions” doesn’t seem to have hurt “Days of Our Lives,” which finished the first quarter of 2009 with better ratings than it had a year ago.
And if producer Procter & Gamble is smart, it will find a way to transfer the strongest actors and writers from “Light” to “As the World Turns,” hopefully boosting the latter show in the process.
The biggest downside in all this, of course, is that dozens of people will lose their livelihoods in a few months, when “Light” tapes its final episode. That’s never a good thing, and particularly sad in the current small-screen economy.

While CBS made the right decision by moving on from “Guiding Light,” it remains to be seen whether it will be as wise in choosing a replacement.
The network would do well to rule out at least a few options. Any executive who suggests another court show should be fired on the spot. And resurrecting any failed talk show ideas from the syndication world would be equally lame.
As it stands, I’m encouraged by the first real contender to emerge: a Michael Davies-produced revival of the “Pyramid” format. The Sony-based Mr. Davies is a game show junkie with strong respect for the genre; left to his own devices, I’m pretty sure he can find a way to make the show feel relevant—or at least fun— for 2009 audiences.
I hope CBS considers limiting “Pyramid” to a half-hour, thus allowing the show to be paired with another game. “The Joker’s Wild,” also owned by Sony, would be a great candidate; it’s got a tinge of “Deal or No Deal”-style randomness that could work well again.
“Sale of the Century” is another format prime for a comeback, particularly with its strong product-placement possibilities.
If CBS decides to go the talk show route, it might consider rolling the dice on Jeff Probst.
The “Survivor” host comes off a bit prickly, but he knows how to cut through the bull and get people to shoot straight. A format that mixed “Donahue” and “Live With Regis and Kelly” would suit him well.
Finally, while I generally abhor programming clones, stealing a page from ABC’s playbook and ripping off “The View” might not be such an awful idea.
Oprah Winfrey already has done just that, turning her Friday shows into a “View”-style roundtable. If daytime can play home to a dozen different judge shows, why can’t CBS put together its own current events-driven, female-friendly talk show?
It could be based in Hollywood, immediately giving it a different tone than the New York-based “View.” It might even mix male and female panelists, differentiating it further from ABC’s show. Perhaps Katie Couric could be a rotating panelist, much as Barbara Walters floats in and out of “The View.”
And if Ms. Couric’s not game, why not ask Ms. Winfrey if she’d like to spin off her “Friday Live” show into its own five-day-a-week franchise?
The worst she can do is say “no.”

121 Comments

  1. If CBS could not find anything old or new to replace ‘GUIDING LIGHT’, they might as well revamp it’s line-up and expand BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL to a full hour. On the other hand, they could air classic episodes of in the timeslot.

  2. I’m still pulling for CBS to revive “The $25,000 Pyramid” in the soon-to-open timeslot in September. I agree to limit the game show to 30 minutes and bring back another classic game show in the other 30 minute slot. “The Joker’s Wild” would be a very good choice to be revived too. I enjoyed the original series on CBS daytime back in the 1970’s and the later syndicated episodes that had Jack Barry and then Bill Cullen as hosts. I did not care for the much later revival of “The Joker’s Wild” or of “Tic Tac Dough.” The producers messed too much with the original concepts and ruined the remakes. Also, now that I mentioned it, “Tic Tac Dough” would be another good show to revive on CBS, its one-time home too. But as with the others mentioned, stick close to the original concepts of these shows. “Sale of the Century” was a good game show in NBC years ago, but I hated the recent syndicated rip-off “Temptation,” based on the original show. CBS would be wise to bring back “The $25,000 Pyramid” and “The Joker’s Wild.” We have too many talk shows on TV now and definitely do not need another court show!

  3. I’m still pulling for CBS to revive “The $25,000 Pyramid” in the soon-to-open timeslot in September. I agree to limit the game show to 30 minutes and bring back another classic game show in the other 30 minute slot. “The Joker’s Wild” would be a very good choice to be revived too. I enjoyed the original series on CBS daytime back in the 1970’s and the later syndicated episodes that had Jack Barry and then Bill Cullen as hosts. I did not care for the much later revival of “The Joker’s Wild” or of “Tic Tac Dough.” The producers messed too much with the original concepts and ruined the remakes. Also, now that I mentioned it, “Tic Tac Dough” would be another good show to revive on CBS, its one-time home too. But as with the others mentioned, stick close to the original concepts of these shows. “Sale of the Century” was a good game show in NBC years ago, but I hated the recent syndicated rip-off “Temptation,” based on the original show. CBS would be wise to bring back “The $25,000 Pyramid” and “The Joker’s Wild.” We have too many talk shows on TV now and definitely do not need another court show!

  4. “Some of the wackier voices in the soaps blogosphere have already predicted CBS’ decision will prompt a domino effect, with other daytime dramas falling faster as a result of “Light’s” demise.”
    The fact that you’re so eagerly speculating on seemingly ANY alternative for GL but a soap only backs up the “wackier” voices who believe this cancellation will hurt daytime.
    I’m amazed that we’re actually supposed to applaud CBS for their bravery in taking the easiest way out — knocking off the longest running TV show for a dirt cheap game show that will be gone within 2 years.

  5. Since when does stupidity equate to bravery? CBS is a bunch of morons.

  6. CBS made a mistake canceling Guiding Light because they believe in the old Nielsen rating system. It’s outdated and pretty much useless. Think of CBS’s sister station The CW and Gossip Girl. GL is just like that. Most people DVR or TiVo it or stream it from the CBS website. There are more people watching than they know. People who have jobs and disposable income to boot.
    If CBS wanted people to watch GL they should have promoted it, all day I see promos for Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful. Why is that? It’s like GL and ATWT are the unwanted step children for CBS. CBS has only themselves to blame for GL’s cancellation because they didn’t do anything to promote the show.
    As for your insulting comment about whacky blogsphere people being upset it’s beyond that, people have been watching this show for 25 plus years, this spans generations, and the fans are not going to give up without a fight. If CBS doesn’t want GL we’ll do are best to find it a home that will respect it’s legacy and promote it as it should be.

  7. I think if any soap should be considered of renewal, it should of been Guiding Light. Not only is it the longest running soap and program (and therefore deserves viewer and network respect), it currently possesses some of daytime’s most coveted talent and the only “watercooler buzz” going on in daytime television. Considering the budget cut that prompted its reformat, it should of been given the time to adjust and reach its maximum potential. That buzz that has started about Guiding Light right now, is only the beginning, and fully shows that this show has the ability to rejuvenate and revamp the soap market. Hopefully CBS is rethinking their choice, because getting greedy isn’t going to maintain viewers. And I think NBC would be a great move for GL and the network. As a 20 something individual who never watched soaps before (couldn’t stand them), can be turned by randomly catching Guiding Light one day, obviously there is something about this show that is worth saving.
    Save Guiding Light!

  8. Why get rid of a show that has turned itself around and is runnig two of the most talked about storylines in daytime (and dare I say in Otalia’s case, on TV)? Apparently CBS is only interested in the antiquated ratings system which does not reflect the true and ever expanding GL audience that can be see online and throughout the fandoms. Let’s hope CBS’s shortsightedness is someone-elses gain.

  9. CBS is making an huge mistake!! GL has brought together atleast four generations of women as well as males in my family. Do not cancel GL because we happen to be in the independent women era. Women these days are successful! They often have to resort to DVR because they are working long hours, and the time slot Guiding Light comes on around here, these women are also engaging in after school projects with their children. Please find a way to save GL!! Otalia is awesome. Crystal Chappell is the best actress daytime has ever encountered!! They are doing great storylines and Phillip is back!! It does not make sense to cancel GL!! They’re are obviously dedicated fans because Otalia won awards for best couple in compitition with shows like Y & R that are according to Neilson rating doing high ratings. How can they result to the conclusion of canceling the best and longest soap opera ever?

  10. Guiding Light deserves a chance to continue bringing the quality television it has been producing this last year. The new production style along with impeccable writing and acting has transformed Guiding Light. Otalia are the “Luke and Laura” of the 21st century.
    An ever-growing viral fan base for GL/Otalia has developed just within the last few months. This fan base represents the future of GL and serial dramas. The viewers who are not counted by the current ratings system deserve a chance to show their loyalty to Guiding Light by supporting it on another channel.

  11. This should not be happeniung. GL has gained huge momentum with the Otalia s/l. People from all over the world (myself included) can’t wait to watch how the romance between Olivia and Natalia will unfold and they won’t even consider that. Remember that economies are global, don’t just rely on the (lack of) taste of the american tv audience. Count us in as well!

  12. I think CBS made a mistake. Guiding Light is amazing right now and I want to see it survive. It has the best writing, acting, and storylines of any soap I’ve ever watched. It is a show worth saving and if CBS won’t keep it going, I hope someone else is smart enough to pick it up.

  13. I have to disagree. CBS was not “brave” in its decision to cancel Guiding Light. They were short sighted. The drop in ratings over the last year was due to an overall change in the show. They switched sets, locations, production model, even how they tell stories- returning to the longer, drawn out, character driven archs of TV past. Guiding Light has received more positive press in the last few months than any other soap- even reaching traditional media outlets like Entertainment Weekly. Not to mention it has the best love story on screen right now in the Natalia / Olivia pairing. The show is the best its ever been right now, and if CBS had just had a little more guts- the pay off that is building now would have a chance to come to fruition over the next year.
    Nielson is a broken system, bottom line. It is short sighted of CBS to not look beyond Nielson to other mediums, including DVR watches and online watchers.
    And replacing an American institution with a cheap re make of a game show is not brave, its a cop out.

  14. I do not think that it would be a smart decision for P&G to look to move their actors from GL to As the World Turns. GL is spot on in it’s current format and has the most hype surrounding it with the Otalia storyline. I cannot understand CBS’s decision to cancel this show, when it clearly had turned itself around over the last 6 – 12 months. The writing is superb, and also, here is a soap doing what it should do, by telling a slow burn love story, which has been missing from a lot of soaps.
    I think CBS’s decision to possibly replace this show with some game show or talk show, shows short-sightedness on their behalf. In a time of recession, we all need some form of escapism from the daily realities, and GL certainly provides that. I hope that some network picks up this wonderful show, as I have seen many european soaps and none of them come near GL. So if GL means something to you, please make sure your voice is heard. I’m certainly doing my bit, and I’m from Ireland!

  15. Guiding Light is an incredibly well produced Tv show right now, the new production model brings such an intense sense of intimacy to the show it’s wonderful.
    I’m in my twenties and a new viewer to the show. The enormous potential that lies in the rapidly growing young female audience for this show is getting recognized by P&G (the Olivia/Natalia storyline is pulling in more and more viewers all over the world), hence their search for alternative ways to get Guiding Lights into our homes.
    I support P&G in their efforts and will follow Guiding Light where ever it goes!

  16. Yeah, right, kudos for being so brave to cancel sth. good for the sake of an antiquated ratings system…
    I had actually had the slightest of hopes, that after the wall street disaster people would actually learn to look beyond the imminent gain, and see the capital present in loyalty, art and tradition…
    Your recommendations to substitute an American tradition w/ a cheap gameshow, or an ABC rip off is just saddening…I do hope,that GL will find a new home..it has a very loyal and strong fan base, that will translate as a success for the lucky network that gets it…

  17. GL was very short-sighted in canceling Guiding Light. The show has experienced a creative resurgence over the last several months and features the hottest couple in all of daytime. They will be lucky to garner half the ratings with its replacement. Whichever network picks up GL will have the distinction of saving an American icon and will instantly have a 2 million+ viewership.

  18. CBS made a huge mistake in canceling Guiding Light when it is the best it has EVER been right now!! The story lines are thought-provoking and intense and the actors are stellar!! If it was a stale, piece of fluff soap I could understand, but this gem is modernized, it feels like a movie when you watch it, and its themes are of redemption, true love and taking responsibility for your own actions. One storyline, if I have to only chose one to mention, particularly astounds me with its quality, attention to detail, and acting: The slow burn love story between Olivia and Natalia (Otalia) has been surprisingly both heartwarming and angsty all at once and it is all the buzz on the internet and around the water cooler. The outdated ratings system does not “count” MOST of Guiding Light’s extremely loyal fans, myself included, and I am educated (graduate degree) and fall into the 18-49 female demographic. I watch it recorded on DVD later in the evening. I hope that CBS reconsiders this cancellation. If not, all hope is not lost. I have faith that Proctor & Gamble will find a new channel/venue for Guiding Light and keep it as intact as possible.
    FIGHT FOR THE LIGHT!!

  19. $25,000 Pyramid? Really? Are you kidding me? It is very sad that CBS has made the decision not to renew GL, a decision that they may regret because I think P&G will find a new home for this piece of television history…and you know what?…wherever GL goes, It’s 2 million plus viewers will follow!!!!

  20. It’s hard to believe that CBS would replace a beautifully written, wonderfully acted show like GL with another game show. People think that we soap watchers do nothing but sit around all day watching tv, however, most of us work full time jobs and tape our shows to be watched in the evening when we are relaxing from that long day at work. It’s an hour we can lose ourselves in someone elses world. I guess it will be one hour I will now have to do other things. Hopefully another network will be wise enough to pick GL and its over 2 million fans up. Those of us loyal to the show will follow it anywhere. We sure won’t pass the time watching a game show.

  21. Good riddens to one too many soap operas. While it was the longest running program in broadcast history, it had to end sometime. Look at ER, a shell of its former self, barely even registering on neilsen ratings the past few seasons compared to the megga success it was the first 5 or 6 years. It went out alright, but do you really think it needed to go the last 5 years? It felt like it was drawn out, and the characters, while enjoyable, had no connection the the history of this show. ER, while I loved the show, should have ended much earlier than it did. That being said, Guiding Light deserves a grand ending. Replacing it with daytime gameshows is a good idea in this day and age. It just does not pay for CBS to back an aging soap opera when a game show or two is cheaper. Just be happy it’s not another hour of Today, which is what NBC would have filled the slot with.

  22. Wow! With so many fans still standing up for “Guiding Light” maybe CBS should simply move the show to its sister-network the CW. From what I have read the CW will be airing TWO episodes of “The Tyra Banks Show” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. this fall. It would make better sense to put an hour of “Guiding Light” into one of those hours instead of having a double- (over-) dose of Tyra!!
    You “Guiding Light” fans should start writing to the CW and/or your local CW TV stations! I highly doubt that either ABC or NBC would be willing to pick up “Guiding Light” in this day and age, but a newer broadcast network like the CW might appreciate the possibility of having a built-in audience moving over to their network, not to mention the hype they can generate for their female-targeted prime time shows like “Gossip Girl” and “90210.”
    An hour of “Guiding Light” followed by an hour of “Tyra”–that would seem to be a more satisfying CW late afternoon schedule.

  23. CBS is being greedy and making a huge mistake. For the past few years I have been a stay at home mom (just recently started pt work) However, even when home I never sat down and watched GL when it actually aired. I always DVR it and watch it a night (cuz we all know nothing decent is on then!) I will no longer be watching any CBS! Who wants to sit and watch a game show or talk show? NOT ME! Who ever pick’s up Guiding Light will have me as a viewer to their network.

  24. Josef, I believe I was the “wacky blogger” who specifically mentioned the “domino effect” in my blog.
    I actually agree with many of your ideas, but I respectfully disagree with your assertion that the idea of a “domino effect” is alarmist.
    I understand the business and believe that many of these shows will disappear in the next 5 years.
    I hope that CBS **does** reallocate resources to better support and strengthen its three remaining soaps. But we’re already hearing ATWT won’t continue past 2010, so I’m not sure how much CBS would want to invest in a property it’s not keeping around.
    http://1000worlds.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/those-wacky-bloggers/

  25. WHAT ABOUT A REVIVAL OF THE OLD BERT CONVY SHOW ‘TATTLE TALES’- I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IN TODAYS CELEB-REALITY DRIVEN CLIMATE.

  26. You’re comparing the cancellation of “Guiding Light,” a 72 year old institution of American programming entertainment, with “Passions,” an utter train wreck of terribly written dialogue, ridiculous story lines, production values and acting skills that rivaled my grade school Christmas pageant, and chronological pacing that makes “24” look speedy, that lasted twice as long as it should have, at 10 years? And you think “$xx Pyramid” is a GOOD idea? How is that being brave? Talk about “wacky.”

  27. What an idiotic article.
    What no one talks about is that GL’s ratings issue results from CBS’ decision in the late 1990’s to allow affiliates (starting with horrible WCBS), who wanted an extra afternoon hour of local programming, to move GL out of the afternoon soap block to a terrible morning timeslot. Unfortunately, I live in the WCBS viewing area, and practically every week GL is pre-empted for something: a White House news conference, the Pope coming to town, Michael Bloomberg get bit by the groundhog on Groundhog’s day, etc. GL is stuck airing in the morning in about ten of the largest viewing marketing in the country. None of the other soaps have this to deal with – they all air nationally in a block in the afternoon. Despite this major issue, GL still manages to pull in ratings that are within a few tenths of a point of the other soaps. GL deserves a medal for this, not to be canceled.
    I would like to know what promotion budget CBS intends to shift from GL to their other soaps since they never, ever, promoted GL. What a joke.
    CBS has badly miscalculated here. Many of us watched their entire daytime lineup and we will not continue to watch Y&R, B&B or ATWT once GL is gone no matter how much promotion miserable CBS gives to the other shows.

  28. Bravery? More like stupidity from what I can see. How is it smart for CBS to cancel a broadcasting history icon for some pitiful game show that will be gone in 2 years? CBS has heavily underestimated the amount of GL fans that are out there. The Nielson ratings are an archaic system at best that has not moved with the times to reflect the medium it’s supposed to measure. More fans watch online and record with their DVRs neither of which are counted by the Nielson Ratings.
    The writing has improved in the last bit with the incredible Otalia storyline that is being talked about in all circles not just entertainment. It’s a modern story with beautiful soapy writing unlike that travesty over on AMC with Reese and Bianca.
    CBS never promoted GL like they should have. They instead promoted Bold and Beautiful and Young and Restless, while treating Guiding Light and As The World Turns as second thoughts. Where was the promotion for Guiding Light when it celebrated it’s 70th anniversary or 72nd anniversary this year? Where was the promotion when Guiding Light won a lot of the major awards at the 2007 Emmys? There was no mention of Gina Tognoni’s second win as Dinah Marler. No mention of Tom Pelphrey winning again for his role of Jonathon. CBS barely promoted the return of Grant Aleksander and didn’t even give a thought to David Andrew MacDonald’s return. To me that doesn’t sound like sound business practices. CBS are the fools for letting Guiding Light and legions of fans go. This decision will come back to haunt CBS. Bravery more like stupidity on their part.
    There is a destiny that makes us brothers
    None goes his way alone
    All that we send into the lives of others
    Comes back into our own.

  29. Guiding Light gets me thru that last hour of work. I have watched guiding light for the last 15 yr. This is crazy for thinking no one watches this show. I listen to it everyday I am working and then come home and watch it on line. I have grown to love the cast as a whole. Reva Shane Lewis McNeal is my girl she is a fighter and a survivor I just love her. Alan Spaulding is the man he runs the town. That is why I think they killed Coop off because he knew the show was ending. This sucks like crap because we watch this show and that is why most of us like cbs in the first place it is for guiding light.

  30. Well let me say this your disrespect for the over 2 million viewers of GL is very insulting. Your view is your view put you are insulting.
    LEt me say this, CBS cancelling GL is not the issue the issue is the way they cancelled GL.
    To the author of this article, I am sad I helped you by even viewing this article. If you think it was a right choice to cancel GL then fine, but saying CBS was brave is down right dumb, they had no regaurd for GL cast and crew nor the fans and it was nothing brave about what they did, they new out cry would happen they just do not give a damn.

  31. CBS brave??…I think NOT. This article is nothing but an insult to the legions and legions of Guiding Light Fans!! What a slap in the face to the fans ONCE AGAIN by CBS! I believe CBS has made a HUGE mistake, and this will come back and bite them in the butts! I am supporting P&G/TeleNext wholeheartedly in finding Guiding Light a new home – a home where they are given the respect and dignity that they deserve AS well as the FANS! Some place we will ALL be appreciated! CBS could care less about Guiding Light or the fans – and if YOU think for 1 second that CBS is going to put any $$ into supporting/promoting their other soaps-Think AGAIN! Yeah, the $25,000 that’ll be HUGE in ratings, now that is FUNNY! The only thing I will continue to watch on CBS is Guiding Light, and come September 19th, I will VOTE with my remote and turn off CBS! Nearly 2-1/2 million consumers may be NOTHING to CBS, but we will find a new home and someone will appreciate those numbers! Fight to Save the Light!!

  32. Idiotic article INDEED! I too am sorry that I have given you the time of day in reading this crap. You have done nothing but add insult to injury, shame on YOU! CBS brave, I see nothing brave about cancelling the longest running program in ALL of television history – what exactly is brave about that????? Here’s a better word for you – STUPID – that’s what it is. Just what the world needs another “let’s try this game show again” or better YET another talk show! Yeah, that’ll get high ratings, PULEEZ! CBS has made a grave mistake. Guiding Light will find a new home and will continue on the upward swing that it has been on! Too bad CBS wasn’t brave and renewed Guiding Light! Keep the Light Shining!!

  33. CBS has made a HUGE mistake. They’ve turned their back on 72 years of broadcast history. They didn’t deserve the Light. But what galls me the most is that they’re being called “brave” for choosing not to think outside of the box when it comes to traditional daytime dramas. They were just LAZY! There’s nothing brave AT ALL in taking the easy way out! If there’s any blessing in this at all, it’s that GL is on a HUGE upswing, and could make it a LOT easier to kill CBS a not-so-fond farewell and head off to a brighter future on another network.

  34. SO, YOU MORONS WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL THINK THAT CBS CANCELLING GUIDING LIGHT AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME AND PUTTING ALL OF THEIR WONDERFUL ACTORS OUT OF WORK, LIKE SO MUCH OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IS A GOOD THING? WELL, GUESS AGAIN YOU BUNCH OF IGNORANT IDIOTS!
    GEE, LET’S SEE. MAYBE IF WE PUT A FEW MORE GAY PEOPLE ON TV LIKE ELLEN AND ROSIE, MAYBE THEN THE YOUTH OF TODAY CAN GET A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE – NOT!!!!!!!! JUST REMEMBER, GOD CREATED ADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM & STEVE.

  35. I heard Steve left Adam.

  36. HEY QUEERBOY/CARPET MUNCHER- WHICHEVER YOU MAY BE,
    UNLESS YOU ARE A TOTAL IDIOT, WHICH YOU PROBABLY ARE, DON’T POST THINGS ON THE INTERNET.
    FROM THE SOUND OF IT, YOU ARE PROBABLY A STEVE/ADAM OR ROSIE TYPE PERSON YOURSELF.

  37. I really widh that before you wrote this article you would have made some research on daytime in general. I am sorry to say but this article sounds like a mouth piece for CBS.
    You state that CBS will spend money on the remaining three soaps? Give me a break CBS doesn’t care one bit about their soaps as has been proven this week.
    Dozens of people lose their jobs?
    Dozens, really? Is that how many people you think it takes to produce a daytime drama? The cast alone is probably 30-40.
    Guiding Light was showing signs of improvements, not only quality wise but also in ratings and CBS should have at least given them another year to turn things around. Guiding Light right now represents the future of daytime drama, it is no longer your grandmas favourite past time but it attracts proffessionals, men and women willing to spend their hard earned dollars.

  38. I take exception to your entire premise that CBS made the right move to cancel Guiding Light. The current way of gauging ratings is antiquated and inaccurate. My mother has watched Guiding Light every day for 50 years but she’s never been counted. How many more examples are there like her?
    The most talked about story line in daytime right now is on Guiding Light and it’s Olivia and Natalia. The reason for this is because the artful storytelling by Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler and Head Writer Jill Lorie Hurst harkens back to the way stories used to be told in daytime. This has been a slow build of over a year for Olivia and Natalia, going from enemies to friends to two women who love each other very much. There has been no sensationalism of the same-sex aspect. It’s been presented as a love story. Period.
    I’m a professional woman in my 40s who will follow this show wherever it lands. The network that picks up Guiding Light will have my support in terms of my viewership and its advertisers will have my dollars.

  39. CBS made a big mistake in cancelling GL. Networks have no idea what to do with the growth of original cable sitcoms and dramas. The Nielsen system is so 20th century and does not take into accout the many viewers who DVR the show while at work and watch later in the day. It’s no wonder the networks are declining. They don’t know how to promote their shows unless it is a reality show which is cheap to produce. Shame on CBS for not giving GL at least another year to prove itself.

  40. hey, TP…your comments aren’t even worth wiping my ass with. And frankly, you insulted yourself in the second comment. Read what you write before hitting post next time you decide to insult everyone.
    And, BTW, Adam didn’t leave Steve. They’re on their way to Vermont to get married…or was that Massachusetts…or Connecticut…or Iowa? It could have even been for a civil union in New Jersey…I don’t remember…now where’s that invitation?

  41. Well, I never got into the soaps, but after 73 years CBS is willing to screw another series. And I was upset because they screwed, and that is the operative word, Jericho.
    I suppose they will sponsor another cheap reality or game show. They will probably make another lame and bad decision and then claim how progressive and good they are. CBS will probably claim how much the fans will like the new shows. Big hairy deal.

  42. With what is happening with CBS’ decision to pull the plug on “Guiding Light,” and NBC’s decision to place Jay Leno at 10:00 ET weeknights, perhaps the time may come when the network bypass their broadcast affiliates in favor of cable.

  43. CBS made a brave call???? What a joke. How dare you try to dress up the cold and callous decision to cancel the Guiding Light after 72 years in the cloak of bravery. The brave thing would have been to honor and respect the millions of viewers that have been dedicated to the Guiding Light and to CBS for decades. The brave thing would have been to recognize that despite a dwindling budget that forced nearly crippling changes to the production of Guiding Light, the cast, crew and staff have still managed to produce a show that in recent months has rivaled anything else on television. The brave thing also would be for CBS to recognize that they have made a mistake, a big one, and to publicly admit it. That’s what bravery looks like. I hope in the future you can write another column that truly describes an act of bravery on the part of the CBS executives, and not one that pretends that your readers can’t tell the difference between what cowardice and shortsightedness and what bravery look like.

  44. While I will miss Guiding Light (big fan of it), I for one hope a cool new revised game show will come. I hope it is either $25,000 Pyramid,
    Jokers Wild. And I hope some other network, CW? Will pick up Guiding Light.

  45. No Bravery at all for CBS. CBS you are hiding behind the truth. MONEY, Like other networks CBS wants the easy formula to make money. It so obvious the number of intelligent and loyal viewers GL has. CBS has no idea of the number of viewers. How could they? CBS I will tune out after September 19th. No problem!!!!!

  46. So bravery is what you are calling CBS’s move? I can think of a few more appropriate words. In this time of trouble in our country, why would the Tiffany network take the longest running show in history and throw it to the curb? It is a time that history should be revered and honored. It is all about time slots. Y & R has succeeded over the years due to its lunchtime slot. Move GL to that time slot and things would be a lot different. The Bill Bell show’s can not hold a candle to the quality programing Guiding Light has offered over the past year. It was only going to improve until CBS had other ideas. We can only hope that Fox or Lifetime has the good sense to pick up the canceled show.

  47. I cannot believe that anyone with any kind of sense or integrity would call CBS brave for cancelling Guiding Light!! I really hope GL finds another network and takes all of its two million viewers with it. It is exactly what CBS deserves. When CBS turns out the Light on September 18, I will be turning out their light!!
    There will be no more reason to turn it on!!

  48. If CBS wasn’t always pre-empting GL with March Madness, political speaches, Dr. Phil, or whatever, they might have had a more dedicated audience. How many times have CBS not shown GL, and no one knows where to find it (usually about 3am). On the other hand, Proctor & Gamble produce the show–not CBS–so, hopefully, another network can pick up the show. Also, why doesn’t GL show up on the SoapNetwork? CBS is being moronic! I hope they rethink their strategy!

  49. I have been watching Guilding Light for 20 years and I am sad its going off the air.I have been watching all soaps on cbs and I will watch GL last day. I think cbs is wrong and I will not watch anything on cbs again.I want to tell cbs I loved all the soaps on cbs but I will not watch cbs shut anymore of my soaps down again.

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