After 72 years on the air, surviving the transition from radio to TV and outlasting numerous competitors, Guiding Light will air its last episode in the fall. In a genre that has outlasted decades of history, a giant has finally fallen in the midst of the current economic recession. For those like me who thought this day would never come, this is further proof that nothing is ever safe.
However unbelievable it seems to fans, upon a close look it's not hard to see why CBS has canceled the soap opera. The show has been pulling in weak viewer numbers for a while, numbers that didn't surge when the soap made a transition from glossy studio sets to the 360-degree production model that let audiences see more of the city of Springfield. The large cast list, boasting many contract players, and the cost of sets and wardrobe is a lot to maintain. It's ironic it costs so much to dress women in so little. If CBS fills the space with a show format that costs less to produce, like a talk show, it can save a lot and spend relatively little, which is an attractive thought for a network trying to compete in tough economic times.
It's sad that the longest-running drama on TV might be replaced by yet another celebrity chatfest. Viewers don't need another Oprah or Ellen DeGeneres. We need amnesia, paternity test switches and love triangles. When looking for escapism, soaps offer the most complete package. Don't make daytime TV redundant by ridding it of its bread and butter and giving viewers prime time TV celebrities and overstuffed furniture instead.
I'll at least record the final episode of Guiding Light, which is scheduled to air Sept. 18. It's one of the few soap operas that has maintained some semblance of dignity throughout its run, and I'll miss that. Hopefully this wake-up call will force its ilk to step it up and actually try some creative story lines for a change, if that's even possible. At the very least, it'll make the shows more respectful of viewers' opinions, which is good for every housewife in the United States. A word of warning for ABC execs: if it even thinks about canceling General Hospital, I will create a Save Spinelli's Show ad campaign that will make them wish they never messed with me.
3 Culture
Stephanie Hummel
