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Guiding Light

September 13, 2009 5:25 PM

Morley Safer interviews the actors and writers behind broadcasting's longest running drama, "Guiding Light," as they celebrate the soap's incredible run and discuss its cancellation after 72 years.

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by smokysnow September 20, 2009 7:26 PM EDT
CBS, it's pathetic and sad that your network bosses don't have
enough sense of history to keep "Guiding Light" on the air.
I know the ratings and profits weren't good, but aren't you folks
in the "creative arts" field? Can't you be creative and do things
to bring this show back, like promote it well, make sure it has the
best writing possible, keep veteran actors on that we like, etc?
Even cut it to a half-hour, if you want. You could still bring
"Guiding Light" back in the near future...."Family Guy" was taken off
the air for awhile, but Fox finally realized it had a big fan base
(I think from DVD sales), and they brought it back.

I think "Guiding Light" has a bigger, more loyal fan base than you
realize. I started watching it with my mom, as many on here did,
and I'm first to admit GL has had problems at times with writing,
crazy camera work (much of the last two years), etc., etc. At times
I've found it great, other times I've found it unwatchable and drifted
away. But I've always come back, because it was a show that MATTERED
to me....and to many others, as well.

Please consider saving "Guiding Light." It's NOT RIGHT to throw away
a piece of broadcasting history like this. CBS, you should be proud
to have this show in your line-up. I'm not watching your idiotic
game show...and I don't know anyone who will. Oh, and I'm not that
old, either. I'm sure you think all "Guiding Light" fans are ANCIENT,
but it's just not true. Use "Family Guy" as an example, and bring
"Guiding Light" back, in some form.
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by BJgram September 20, 2009 5:04 PM EDT
I am (am I ready for this?) 61 and I can remember the radio show as a child. I loved coming in and listening to the radio show. It taught me to listen, to write, to dream and take time to see how things were going on around me. It was Guiding Light and other radio shows that I remember. I remember when they started on the TV as well. Oh! I can not believe that I am saying all of this. I am going to miss this show very much. I only watched Guiding Light. I did not bond to the other shows as I did this one. If there is a way it can come back that would be great. I would love to know what the actors will be doing after this show ends. It is kind of important to know because they are family going out into the world and they need to keep intouch some how. The way the show ended was very good. It was so up beat! Thank you writers for that. I know this is just a job for all of the actors but it was something more for the watchers. Yes, there were weird things going on throughout the years but it was like we were going through them with you. To have that come to an end can not end with one last show. Please create a show to let us know what is happening in everyone's lives. Thank you.
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by citygirl04 September 20, 2009 1:22 AM EDT
I agree, CBS made a extremely huge mistake!! I have been crying all week over this. I?m very depressed. I will miss GL. It has been part of my family for a long time.. I'm not watching CBS any longer!!! Everyone else should do the same...They should have cancelled the Price is Right or something, heck cancel the News!! There is never any good news, we could all do without sad and depressing news!!! What are we going to do with out Guiding Light???
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by 122903 September 19, 2009 10:23 PM EDT
I started watching the GUILDING LIGHT in 1982 my self and stepdad and mom at that time she had cancer and was bed ridden and she passed away in 1983 that was our family time together,I grew up with the show and to see the light go out friday was another loss for me, just like loosing her again. I never thought i would get so attached as much as i did. I didn't do anything but cry the whole last week it was on, and bring back some of the old people made me cry even more. i was a blubbling idiot for and hour,but i can say the writers did a good job for the last week of the show made a full circle for everyone.And for CBS to cancel the GUILDING LIGHT was a bad mistake,and replace it with a game show thats a waist,the GULILDING LIGHT will be sadly missed,and i'm not watching any more soaps i'm done. I wish the GUILDING LIGHT cast and crew the very best.
sincerely
maggie
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by loveguidinglight September 18, 2009 8:34 PM EDT
I used to watch Guiding Light with my grandmother in the 60's. I have watched it everyday since.
I am now 56. I don't know what I will do with the hour I'm going to miss so much.
There isn't a show on TV that will replace it. I will miss seeing all my favorite actors everyday. I hope they do well. I can't imagine not watching Guiding Light. I have cried all week. I still can't believe that its the end!
I will be hard to come home after work and not being able to watch my favorite show (Guiding Light).
Someone should have picked up this wonderful soap. All the cast and crew are wonderful. I will miss you very much.
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by ibdorth September 18, 2009 8:12 PM EDT
I know that our comments dont help any, but I am 22 years old. you dont see many younger people watching soaps, but when your in 6th grade and your mom takes away your cable tv you choose between court shows and soaps!!! I have watched Guiding Light for HALF of my life, 12 years now!!!!!! I hate it that its going off the air! I come home every single night and watch it. I never miss an episode. I would race off the school bus back in 9th grade hit the door at 3:10 and the first thing I would do is cut on the TV to guiding light. I still continued to do it once we got our cable back. I have cried the past couple weeks when i watch it knowing its coming to an end. my husband laughs at me, but I just say, "what if your football came to an end"! I hate it that the show didnt have enough ratings, but I guess its like they say, all good things must come to an end. well the end SUCKS! love you guiding light, hate to see you go!!! :-(
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by jojomura September 18, 2009 5:50 PM EDT
For 38 years Springfield has been a haven for me from the real world- zany and crazy at times but oh so sincere and "realistic"! The people were real no matter what lines they had to utter -I loved most of them and loved to hate many of them - who could equal Roger?! It was great to see the former characters brought back - but sad because it signaled the end. All of these actors deserve every award possible and I want them to find success in whatever role they end up in. Could we keep in touch so we know where to find them???? Thank you all - I will miss you. (I'm so glad Dinah met up with Mallett!)
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by BrendaGarner September 18, 2009 5:46 PM EDT
I AM 52 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING GUIDING LIGHT FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. IT IS ALMOST LIKE I AM IN THE FAMILY YOU MIGHT SAY!!! I GOT A PICTURE OF THE 15,000 TAPING, BUT A LOT OF YHE NEW MEMBERS ARE NOT IN IT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A PHOTO OF ALL CAST MEMBERS OLD AND NEW, OR EVEN THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED? MY SISTER SAID SHE WAS GONNA SEND ME AND MY MOTHER A DOZEN OF BLACK ROSES FOR TODAY. WOULD OF BEEN GREAT, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I LOST A LOT OF FAMILY HERE FROM GUIDING LIGHT!!!! JUST LIKE A FUNERAL I WOULD SAY. IF EVER, PLEASE BRING THEM BACK. AFTER ALL ON A LOT OF OTHER SOAPS I USED TO WATCH, THE BROUGHT BACK THE DEAD ALL THE TIME. LOL
GUIDING LIGHT YOUR CAST WILL BE MISSED ALL OVER THE WORLD AS WELL AS YOUR SHOW!!!! I WISH ALL GOOD LUCK IN THEIR FUTURE WHAT EVER IT BRINGS.
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by amyls September 18, 2009 4:38 PM EDT
In a world of constant change, GL was a lifeline of stability and history... the one thing I've had in my life for as long as I can remember. It is disappointing that we live in a world where ratings and profits always come before people (the actors and fans.) GL is a CBS icon and they should have treated its history as such - there was a way to keep it on the air and they needed to find it. There is so much lost potential- their younger actors stories and children are so much better than anywhere else and no other soap has intertwined families like the Coopers, Spauldings and Lewises in such an amazing way. I'm angry and the loss I feel is overwhelming. I still pray someone will wake up and renew GL in a timeslot that will give it a chance to compete. (I'd even watch it in primetime!) I have watched CBS programming almost exclusively for many years and while I'll miss my favorite shows, CBS can tell their advertisers that this is one viewer who won't be watching them at all anymore. Thanks to GL and its loyal and talented actors and staff for sharing their lives with all of us.
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by guidemethruthenight September 17, 2009 9:38 PM EDT
Wow!!! I'm so depressed!! I can truely say I never thought this would happen or seen it coming. This show has been my family away from my family. I started watching this show at the end of my high school freshman year going into the summer. I believe it was 1973. I grew up with Phillip, Beth, Mindy and Rick. I love them dearly, especially our trip to New York. What show was my favorite? I cannot really say from the Holly and Roger stories to my most favorite, Reva and Josh, they are soulmates forever just as Phillip and Beth. I get teary when I talk about this, but I know in my heart this show took me somewhere else for that one hour. I have good memories of sharing this soap with my daughter who was a late bloomer. Nevertheless, she also became a fan. I know my other family members don't understand the sadness I feel, but to those devoted fans who know....I will not watch a CBS show during that hour. I know they could have saved it if they wanted to. I hope others follow suit. Best wishes to all the cast members. You are all wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the 36 years I spent with you---Phyllis in Indianapolis,IN
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by janinmi September 17, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
I will also miss the Guiding Light. I have decided to quit watching all of the other soaps on tv as well. This is very devastating to me as well, I do not want to go through this feeling again. I agree I believe that CBS should have switched the time slot for the Guiding Light. 3p.m. could not be a worse time for people. For many people they do not get out of work until 3:30 or they have to be to work at 3:30. Not to mention many mothers who have children in school are leaving a little before 3 to pick them up. I see DR Phil is going to be taking this time slot, can't wait to see what happens with his ratings. I for one will no longer have my TV on from 12:30 to 4p.m.

Thanks 60 minutes for this tribute.
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by Ashe23 September 17, 2009 8:32 PM EDT
Im 23yrs old and Ive grown up watching GL I remember coming home from school and I sitting with my mom to watch, I can remember moments like Roger being shot, The 5th Street Fire, Buzz losing Nadine and Jenna, The loss of Maureen Bauer and many more, I will miss the light
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by 1greatnana September 17, 2009 7:25 PM EDT
I remember watching GL on a teeny-tiny black and white TV as a little girl. It has been a constant in my life for over 50 years. I am so sad to see it end, and I'm sorry that CBS felt that they had to cancel it. I can't help but wonder if it wouldn't have been canceled if it had played in the 3 p.m. time slot instead of early morning.

But, time goes on, and "it is what it is". Thank you to the folks who inhabited "Springfield" and were a part of my life for so long. You will all be missed. I wish you all the best.
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by MsShessy September 17, 2009 3:41 PM EDT
Just change time slots....or better yet....let another network take the program! No one who watches Guiding Light is going to watch Doctor Phil!!! The ending of this "story" is ridiculous! I hope that at some point you will realize the mistake that you have made.
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by bandtman99 September 17, 2009 12:43 AM EDT
I am 43 years old and I have watched this show since I was in Junior High School. Cbs does not have to many programs left that drive home a purpose or some positive idea. Guiding light has suffered for a while , but I still continue to watch this great peace of inspiration. Its one of the few shows that still send across the message of love, purpose, and meaning.This trully will fill like a void in life not having this show around. I really hope Cbs loses its ratings....with all of its CSI's Ncis's and reality shows. We live in a real world. Soaps are a means of escape. I thank all the actors for their hours of my days...
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by 2boysn1girl September 16, 2009 11:10 PM EDT
CBS is making a huge mistake. Why not try to save the show? Try a better time slot. This is one of the only shows that I NEVER miss. With the number of fans that have grown up watching the show, they probably have one of the most loyal followings of any show out there. Why not find out what the fans want? Don't waste time changing the filming techniques and set location! It's about the characters and story lines. We wanted them to bring back Gus and Harley, Richard & Cassie, (I preferred the first one), Danny and Michelle, Jonathan and Sarah, Hawk, Fr. Ray, Mindy, Maureen & Ed Ross, Lujak. The Rearden Family (Matt & Nola), Jenna, Nadine. There has been some amazing talent in the past. Rob Decina where are you?

Look at the great characters and story lines that they had when the show was a success. I have to say that I have enjoyed more now at the end since they have brought some of the old characters back. Why didn't they bring them back sooner. It doesn't help to improve things after the have already pulled the plug on the show.

Does GL have enough fans to make a difference? If we all pull the plug on CBS will they realize what a mistake they have made? I know that there is nothing left for me on CBS! GL Fans stand strong and unite -- don't let the show go without a fight. If network ratings suffer maybe they will finally listen.
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by gloh1 September 16, 2009 4:00 PM EDT
The Guiding Light and the CIS/NCIS series are the only reason I watch CBS television. I only caught the Sixty Minutes piece on the internet site because a friend let me know that it had aired on Sunday night. Thanks for the memories!!!!
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by Jerseygirl85 September 16, 2009 3:18 PM EDT
Thank you 60 Minutes. This is the best (and virtually only)tribute to our beloved soap. (Even the show hasn't given us a nice juicy clip show.) So many of us are so very sad but the fact that you guys "got" our saddness means a lot. And to CBS...Well, I wish you would have been better caretakers.
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by Greeneyesofcarolina September 16, 2009 3:09 PM EDT
CBS is making a HUGE mistake. How can they get rid of such a great show? It's more realistic than Y&R or B&B where money power and fame rule the show. I don't know people like that. I relate more to those of Guiding Light. Real lif issues. And some not so real life, but that's what made it great. And the characters you couldn't help but falling in love with. I'm 40 yrs old and I've never been a day without this show. Even as an infant I was with my Mother or Grandmother who was watching it. Needless to say I started out with a 4 soap line up on CBS. In the end the only one I've stuck with and watched for yrs is Guiding Light. Looks like my soap watching days are officially over. Thanks CBS! (Not) And to all the cast....I love you all and will miss you dearly. Feel like I've lost my family.
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by Happyheinrich September 16, 2009 10:14 AM EDT
I still can't believe the show is ending I grew up watching Gl with my mother and now I watch it with my daughter who is 15. I don't know what they are talking about with not attracting the younger viewer or low rating. I also talk with other people I have met, that are also loyal watchers from different states I have lived in threw out the years. And also with family members have all be GL fans.

I am having a GL last show party with people all taking off work to watch the show. and we are not happy..

THEY NEED TO BRING THE SHOW TO ANOTHER CHANNEL AND NOT CANCEL THE SHOW!!
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