Final Flicker for "Guiding Light"

Longest-Running Broadcast in History Ends; Stars Reflect, Share Plans for New Projects

(CBS)  "Guiding Light" is not only daytime TV's longest running soap, it's the longest-running broadcast in history. On Friday, the soap airs its final episode, and ends a decades-long relationship between fans and the actors who have grown up with the show.

In an age when a hit TV show can last just a few years, "Guiding Light" bests them all -- on the air for 72 years.

Lynn Leahey, of Soap Opera Digest magazine, said, "This is a big loss for daytime television - 'Guiding Light' is really iconic."

The daytime drama was first televised in 1952, after a run on the radio, which began in 1937.

Daniel Cosgrove, who played Bill Lewis on "Guiding Light" said, "It's pretty sad for this 72 year-old gal to be put down. There's a lot of people who have played a part for years."

Several big-name stars count "Guiding Light" on their resume,
including Kevin Bacon, Calista Flockhart and Hayden Panettiere.

But it's the lesser known actors -- that have played their roles for decades -- that are fan favorites.

Kim Zimmer, who played Reva Shayne, said, "We all laugh when we say we agreed to a three-year contract 28 years ago."

Zimmer and Newman have played on-again, off-again couple, Reva and Josh since 1983.

Robert Newman said, "I'll miss Josh and Reva, but they are characters in a play. I'll miss the people. ... There have been so many monuments shared in people's lives over the years. Kim and I watched each other's kids grow up."

Forty years ago, with far fewer channels, there were 19 soaps. Now, just seven remain. "Guiding Light" is the most recent casualty of declining ratings.

Slideshow: "Guiding Light" Signs Off

Leahey said, "What's difficult for daytime television now is society has changed so much. Women aren't at home watching television, they're doing other things. So it's very difficult for daytime to have a business model that makes sense."

As for the actors of "Guiding Light," -- aside from the tears -- "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez remarked there is a genuine sense of optimism.

Newman said, "I'm looking forward to what's next and I'm looking forward to that point in my life."

Zimmer said she is excited about her next chapter as an actress.

She said, "I haven't had an agent for ten years. I'm having new pictures taken I'm doing all the things I did when I was 18 years old -- before I got the greatest gig in the world."

On "The Early Show" Friday, Ron Raines, who played the infamous Alan Spaulding and Tina Sloane who played nurse Lillian Raines, shared how they're dealing with the end of their long-running roles and what's next for their careers.

Sloane said, "This has been my life for 26 years. And all the fans, all the crew, all the producers, the kids who worked on the show, the hair, the makeup, these were all people we lived we have day. ... We're just so close to each other. We've really bonded, as you do, over 26 years."

Raines said he was surprised the show went another year.

"I thought we might get the ax last year," he said.

Raines said the show had a lot of positive things happening, such as new energy and advertising, this year.

"We were being noticed for this new model that we had defined, and it was working," he said. "So it did surprise me, and I think it surprised everyone this year, which was the way it always happens, isn't it?"

However, Sloane has already moved on to other projects, such as a play being staged in Atlanta she wrote called "Changing Shoes."

She said the title is very apropos for her life now.

Raines said, "A lot of people have already move order to other jobs and getting on with their lives, but it is very tough. I don't think it's really hit me yet -- the gravity of it."

Sloane added, "We'll miss CBS -- and they'll miss us."

Raines added he's seen the enduring power of the show on several generations of viewers.

He said, "This past weekend, I met a grandmother and her granddaughter, and she said she started (listening) when it was in radio with her grandmother and mother. (That's) six generations, seven generations."

The series finale of "Guiding Light" aired at 10 a.m. Friday on CBS.

[farmshrink]

The only hope that soaps have of staying on the air is to become relevant. The only buzz that GL got over the last 3-5 years (aside from its cancellation) was the love story between Olivia and Natalia. (And by the way, RightStateofMind, "debacharary" isn't a word; and Willow? You do know that your user name is the same name as one of TV's most popular lesbians, right? Pardon me while I laugh my butt off.) But CBS and P&G caved like tissue paper in the rain, and wouldn't let these two women--who weren't cheating on anyone and weren't blood-related--share even one chaste kiss. CBS would do well to look at a calendar. And lest you think this is just one of those disgusting, debauched lesbians talking, I have 7 heterosexual friends who have sworn off CBS and P&G products--not just to support me, but because they find the hypocrisy so repellent.

[sam-kiley]

bonjour
je ne connais malheureusememnt pas l'émission, mais je comprends parfaitememnt leur émotion..courage et au revoir

[stumpy904]

keep erasing all comment that dont goes you way I will keep leaving them for eveyone that dont like the show .stop leaving negativie comment You must have like something you seem to know a lot about what was going on

[stumpy904]

You lost a viewer who ever canceled guiding light shold be fired.Espesically who evr replaced itwit deal or no deal I hopeCBS goes offthe evr I will never tune into yu again I suggest ever one who watcehes cbs soap tune into soap.net for viewing

[pryormt]

If all the people do not like the results of taking a show off the air the only recourse is to do the right thing the American thing and Boycott the products that the show has put on with P&G.If all people did not buy these products for 72 days this would send a message to the mindless corporation that the buying public controls that which you do can make it change.

[guest173]

life is too short to watch a soap opera, they just teach people how to make up fights out of tiny things and other immoral things. reality has enough of that, we don't need long fiction dramas about it

[nansea5]

The demise of a soap opera is bad writing. Happens all the time but I would watch a soap before a game show, talk show, or reality show. Grey's Anatomy is an example of a great soap although they might not want to call it a soap. It entertains me.

[Always_01]

Well its over,,,Guiding Light...it is sad to see it go...but the way what the writer have done to the show ...I blame them..how they could not of done better to keep this lovely show on the air...But I am sure we see the all the characters on other shows and soap...maybe they can unite some with the same name they had on the Guiding Light....They were all good actress and actors..and there characters will be miss...I will miss you all...ALWAYS....Now we have another game show..will not watch it. CBS could of done better then that..and please no more talk show..be nice to come home from work and watch some thing I enjoy..guess there is other shows to watch on other channels...good bye at 3-4..or more...

[KMFELDER40]

I grew up with Guiding Light. I really do not understand why the writers could not keep up with the times. There are so many issues out their that they could have been a major hit. Really, I am tired of seeing shows where the guy falls in love with the same girl 5 to 10 times. Why, do these shows not write about things that are facing our youth today. First, teenager pregnacy and what to do if you do not tell your parents. Second, meth drug addiction that effects the upperclass, Third, homosexual and lesiban issues that are completely revealent like gay bashing, or suicide, and cross dressing issues. Finally, if I have to watch more of people falling in love with one women then another going back and forth...I will stop watching all of the shows completely. Young and the Restless, Bold and Beautiful please give it a rest alreday

[willow013]

I think the downfall started with the two lesbians featured on the show....Disgusting!!!!

[Always_01]

I think it was falling before that..it was falling when they change the format of it...bad writers...so sad

[dmthomas1]

I agree the lesbians should not have been added to the show.But I was happy they had brought back Philip and johnathan, I thought things were getting back to the way it was before I loved this show, I hope the change their minds and bring it back.

[stumpy904]

your stupid