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I’ve tried to pretend it’s not happening, but it’s true: On Sept. 18, after a 72 year run, the citizens of Springfield say goodbye as CBS runs its last episode of daytime’s “Guiding Light.” Thus ends the generations-long saga of the Spauldings, Bauers, Lewises, Shaynes, Coopers and various other families that made GL must-see TV for so many years.
So we’d like to hear from you die-hards: Are you heartbroken? How long have you watched? What was your favorite storyline? Favorite couple? Favorite scene? Least-favorite storyline (I boycotted for a year after they killed off my beloved Maureen Bauer, my all-time favorite character).
Please leave your favorite memories, or email me at lstreeter@pbpost.com.
I watched GL growing up. I remember many lazy summer days watching from my Grandma’s house. I have not watched in years, but my all time favorite storyline was in the 80′s with Beth, Mindy, Phillip, Rick and LuJack. I also was a huge fan of Reva in the 80′s, especially when she was marrying all the Lewis boys!
I have been a GL viewer for 30 years. I began watching when I was nine when Alan and Hope were stranded on the island. Alan Spaulding was my first crush. To this day he remains my all time favorite character. I was extremely saddened when it was announced that CBS was canceling this beloved show! It is so much more than a television show, to so many the characters are like friends and family! I have been deeply touched by the outpouring of support by so many fans as we tried to save our show! The cast and the crew of GL are indeed a very special and talented group of people. They are top notch! I will indeed miss coming home each night and spending time with my friends “Alan,”, “Beth” and “Alex!”
In 1955 I was only 18 and newly wed. I started watching GL. 15 minutes. All to soon I had to go to work, so I missed some things, but my dear Grandmother was a big fan, and everyday I came home from work and got all the info from her. Soon we started a family and was able to stay home and watch GL. As the kids got older I went back to work, and I think I was the very 1st person in line to get a VCR. As the years have gone by I have watched so many characters come and go. I feel I know all of them and when they are sad, and lose a loved one I cry, and when they laugh I laugh with them. My heart is broken to lose all my GL family. GL will be missed by so many of us. I’m now 72, (tomorrow) and have grown old with GL. I have no plans to get involved with other soap opera.
I hope you can keep us informed as to what all of the main characters are doing.
I used to watch guiding light in my earlier years..and my favourite pass time was Beth Mindy, Rick, Phillip and who can forget Vanessa back in the days, and how about Hope and Allen..The show has change alot over the years, having people killed coming back…especially Reva..playing different roles..Story line started becoming a bit crazy for me..in which I got turn over off and stop watching it..and am sure thats the reason why alot of fans lost interest..To all the cast members thanks for some good years and God bless each and every one..Wishing you all the best!!!
Oh!! By the way I forgot about NOLA..another favorite character and Quinn…I just had to acknowledge her work also..Thanks for some good years>>>
I have watched Guiding Light for 39 years. My Grandmother and my Mother watched it also. I can not believe CBS is taking it off the air. I was so hoping that a cable station or another station would pick it up. Lifetime or Oxygen maybe.
Does anyone know if another station this is in the future?
I will miss GL very much. I don’t know what the big guys at CBS are thinking.
Oh yeah, it’s all about money. I can think of several programs CBS should take of the air and GL isn’t one of them.
God Bless all and I hope to see you all again on another station.
My favorite storyline was with Lujack, Philip, Mindy and Beth. I was working off and on and going to school and it was after high school I began watching it around 1980? I also cried when Bert passed away in real life, she had been on there for a long, long time. I really preferred the original Philip and Beth, I don’t know, when they change actors, it just seemed like different people to me, I think it was worth it to up their salaries to keep them! Anyhow, haven’t watched for the past few years, but remember Rick and Rita, Vanessa, Nola Reardon, Tony Reardon, I think, may be wrong, did Kevin Bacon play on the show at one time? I think he was Tim who was in love with Beth??? Another girl liked him, it was sad. I remember Kelly Nelson and a beautiful actress nurse who adored him, she died on the show, too. And Morgan.
I cannot believe we are about to loose the first TV show I remember watching. I remember watching Alan and Hope long before I remember my first episode of Sesame Street. I have watched everyday for over 34 years. I skipped school for almost a week when Maureen died. I have taped, cdr’d, and DVR’d this program everyday and I am not sure what I will do after it is gone. I cried like a little girl when Dr. Rick almost died. I am sure that I married my ex-husband because he looked like Dr. Rick. My most favorite couple without a doubt was Kelly and Morgan. I wanted to be Morgan. She was so beautiful and free. And LuJack and his brother Nick, how hot they(he) were. What will we do now? I don’t think I will ever watch another soap again. This is too heart breaking. “GL” you will be missed with all my heart.
I feel that CBS could have allowed the show to live until it was 75 to make another milestone. I blame the falling ratings on the lack of money GL was given to produce an hour long show. It seems to me that networks flood these cheap, low quality reality shows with money but fail to reward the daytime shows that have been a huge moneymaker for years.
I was very sad to hear of GL’s cancellation – especially on April Fools Day. Television will not be the same, and I’ve lost interest in television in general. It seems that most new shows with quality are dropped shortly after they begin, except for Brothers and Sisters. I invested 30 years of my life in GL, through good times and bad, only to have my loyalty thrown out with the bathwater. I understand the show needed to make money, but Procter & Gamble did make $2 billion in profits. It seems to me they could have given GL more money to make the quality of the new production model better.
My favorite character was, is, and always will be Reva Shayne. I admire her spirit and her “the hell with it” attitude towards life. I had the privilege of meeting Reva’s portrayer, Kim Zimmer, at Universal Orlando in March. She was so warm, gracious, and made sure all of her fans got quality time with her. It was also a great joy to meet Tina Sloan who plays Lillian Raines.
My favorite storyline – there are too many to name. 30 years worth of stories…it’s just too hard to pick a favorite, and on September 18, it will be too hard to say goodbye. It’s like the song “Goodbye My Friend” by Linda Ronstadt. They played that when Maureen Bauer was killed off by Jill Farren Phelps in 1993 – and that’s what I’ll play when GL flickers out.
I am a third generation Guiding Light fan. I’ve watched this show all of my (53 years) life! I remember when it was a 15 minute show that came on right after another Soap called, “Search For Tomorrow”. They both came on after the news at noon. Of course in the 50′s & 60′s, it aired in black & white. I remember the Rev. Rutledge saying at the end of each show, “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.” There was an underlying spiritual subtlety to the show that’s been missing for a while. It was almost like seeing a church sermon played out with real people in everyday situations. There was always a message to be heard. I know it sounds crazy, but that was my impression years ago.
This show is rich with history, a real trend setter in it’s day; dealing with issues that weren’t openly discussed at that time, like when Roger raped Holly! I think Reva is a special character and has influenced my life in some ways. It’s hard to pick one person though as they are all special in their own way, just like family members! Same with a favorite scene. There are too many, all the weddings, love triangles, and comings and goings of great talent. I hope they plan to wrap up the show with class and dignity as it deserves!
The factitious town of Springfield and all of its people have become like family. I am feeling the grief of this loss already! I have grown up with some of these characters. It is very sad that the longest running show of 72 years, with all of its history, can’t continue. I guess this is just another reality of the trying economic times that we are facing. My personal opinion is that the show began to go downhill after Ellen Wheeler took over production. I also think Proctor & Gamble wants out of TV Soaps, while CBS is looking at their profit & loss reports. They just didn’t put enough effort into saving the show and putting it back on track. There is plenty of blame to go around. What a pity!
I must admit that I am still holding out hope, even in this eleventh hour, that maybe in time the show will be picked up by another network. I know it’s a long shot, but I just can’t imagine my life without The Guiding Light. I know one thing, I will NOT be watching the replacement game show that CBS has planned! I don’t routinely follow any of the other Soaps, and do not plan to begin now. When the “Light” goes out on September 18th., MY TV WILL BE OFF during the time that the show usually airs. As I said, I am hoping that some other network sees the value of saving this show and gives The Guiding Light a new home. In the meantime, I will try to relish what time remains. Keep The Light Burning!!
Well Good Bye,
It’s Won’t Be The Same with out Watch GL. Well SpringField will Be Missed. Well I will also Miss The Cast The Lewis’s & The Marler’s & The Bauer’s & Some of The Spaulding’s .Well I’m One of The Fans That Had aGreat Fight to Try to Keep The Light On Shining Very Bright. Well I Even Think The Cooper’s Did a Great Job. With a Suprising Twist on Fri Shwo That Cyrus Folley was a Cyrus Cooper. Well It’s Even Nice to See The Reagle Cast From 25 Year’s Back. But It The Writer’s Thought about Keeping The On The Show it Might Not Have Been Light’s Out for GL.
I dont have a favorite character or storyline. The entire show from the time I was a just a girl has been one big roller coaster of a ride. I have loved watching the families grow and venture out. And I loved how everyone on there remained vital to storylines. The younger ones had parts that you could grow with and the older ones where tantilizing and you could sink into a story with each one. I do like the way the older women have stayed viable and important to stories over the years. Too much is placed on the younger generation and it’s nice to see the older ladies being sexy and in control or at times out of control. I do miss Holly and Ross and some of the others that have gone their own way. And those who are no longer with us are missed even more. I just wish with all my heart that it would go on.
Thank you cast and crew for the years of wonderful television. Gods speed to each of you.
My daughter and I used to watch Guiding Light together. Our favorite story lines were:
Rick, Mindy, Beth, Phillip; then Lujack. Lujack was cool.
Nola and Quint. When Nola went to work at Quint’s spooky house.
Billy and Vanessa. They were so funny. The teapot story and
the costume party and Billy was Rhett Butler and Vanessa was
Scarlett.
We thought the writing and acting was brilliant in these stories.
REVA. I love Reva best. I am so sad to see the show go.
BTW
How did Kathy Bauer die?
I listened to this show on radio as a child and remember when it came to television (15 min.). I have always found it my favorite daytime show and am heartbroken that it is going off. I have never liked game shows and will not watch the one that will replace the “Light” and will no longer watch CBS daytime I will go for TNT from now on for daytime watching
I’ve always been a fan of Guding Light. I hope Philip and Beth finally get together. i won’t watch whatever they put in it’s place.
I think it’s one of the best shows on TV. Along with As The World Turns.
If we had to lose our program, at least they ended it with dignity and grace. Giving the year to occur for Josh and Reva to reunite made it easier to let go.
Thank You Guiding Light for 46 years of being part of my life. In fact, you are a part of 5 generations.
i can’t recall how long i’ve watched Giuding Light.. my favorite
storyline was Roger/Alex at the country club and yes i am very
much heartbroken and my favorite scene was when Reva Jumped into
the faountain and my favorite couple were Josh and Reva and my
least favorite storyline was where Holly was Raped by Roger and
i also loved Bert and the rest of the Bauer Family