Jump to content

GL: Will The Light Burn Out Out Come Sept?


Recommended Posts

  • Members

CBS Shopping for ‘Light’ Replacement

Network Weighs Fate of Long-Running Soap

By Josef Adalian

CBS may soon decide to pull the plug on “Guiding Light,” the longest-running daytime drama in television history.

While no final decision has been made, the network’s deal for the Procter & Gamble-produced drama—the least watched of the eight daytime serials currently on the air—ends in September. But if CBS does drop “Guiding Light,” it likely would lock in a decision within the next month, people familiar with the matter said. That would give writers a chance to tie up storylines.

CBS also would need to finalize new programming for the daytime hour that “Guiding Light” would be vacating.

In the most significant indication that the network is seriously pondering life without “Guiding Light,” CBS has been talking to outside studios about potential replacement programming for the show, sources said.

Possibilities under discussion include both game shows and talk shows. CBS could easily cut its programming costs for the hour in half by switching away from a scripted drama.

Representatives for CBS and P&G declined comment.

In addition to contracting with an outside studio for programming to replace “Light,” CBS daytime chief Barbara Bloom has been developing possible in-house candidates for the soap opera’s slot.

CBS executives are taking their time deciding the fate of “Light,” which has survived more than 70 years on radio and television. P&G also produces the CBS soap “As the World Turns.”

Nonetheless, a decision by CBS to end “Light’s” run on the network wouldn’t be a surprise.

The serial has been the subject of cancellation rumors for the better part of a decade. Those rumors became particularly intense within the past 18 months, but P&G threw something of a Hail Mary pass last year when it implemented a radical reworking of “Light’s” production model.

On Feb. 29, 2008, the show ditched its traditional storytelling style in favor of a lower-cost model that also was intended to give the show a more realistic, less staged feel. Around the same time, CBS renewed “Light” for the current season, retaining an option for an additional season.

Ratings for the show haven’t improved since the switch. “Light” is averaging a 0.9 rating among women 18-49 and a 1.6 household rating, according to Nielsen. Season-to-date, it’s averaging 2.17 million viewers and a 0.9 rating in women 18-49; season-to-season, it’s down 18% in viewers and down 25% in the demographic.

“Light” began life as a radio soap opera, moving to CBS television.

Moving to the Web?

It’s possible P&G or CBS could attempt to keep the show alive in some form on the Internet, though doing so likely would require another radical reinvention of its production model.

Much of the daytime drama business is struggling, with ratings for most soaps down significantly over the past decade. NBC is down to one soap, “Days of Our Lives,” following the decision to dump “Passions” in 2007 (the show survived one more season on DirecTV).

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/cbs_sho...ght_replace.php

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 118
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members

(cue posts saying the show needs to die, daytime will be reinvented in a blaze of glory, and so on)

I know there were some rumors the show was going to get another year. The ratings still aren't that great, so a cancellation won't surprise me. I do hope they stay, I think the show still has some life left (which is more than I can say for 2 or 3 other creatively dead, repulsive soaps), but I'm definitely not expecting a renewal.

It's telling that the first options they talk about are game shows and talk shows.

With the truly sad state of Price is Right, another game show is the last thing they need to worry about, but that's another topic entirely.

Anyway...I know every show has to end, but I'll probably still hope for another extension.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

This would never, EVER happen, but I would love to see them do a revamped Wheel of Fortune...return to the shopping era, slow the pace of the show down, give away those camptastic prizes in those showcase rooms, and get a goodlooking, game show vet to host. Hell, even Doug Davidson would do. And since CBS/Paramount already has a marriage with Wheel by way of Sony(they distribute the show via its syndication arm), what better way to get in bed with Sony again by stripping the show for the daytime audience? Then Sony could have three daytime properties in network television instead of two. Unless there's an affliates issue? NuDaytimeWheel would beat GL hands down.

Or what if CBS dipped into FREEmantle's lot of game shows? Press Your Luck? Card Sharks(but please, not like 2001)?

Or even acquiring Lingo or Friend or Foe from GSN?

I definitely don't want a talk show or a VIEW ripoff on CBS. Unless they brought Leeza out of retirement. That leggy piece of cheese was always alot of fun when she was on NBC.

At least Bloom is smart enough to keep their hour in daytime instead of giving it away to the affiliates. It shows the network doesn't want daytime(at least a daytime filled with network programming) to die.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I'm not sure how successful any game show will be now, especially some of those which rely more on the chemistry of the hosts than on the format. If they have to have one I'd rather they just bring Password back to daytime. They don't need Regis as a host, and they don't even need anyone that famous for panelists. If they are that desperate to get rid of GL, they could always just make the cast members celebrity panelists.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

As soon as I saw Nelson Branco saying GL's return was probably a done deal and ATWT was up in the air, my first thought was, "GL's probably going to get canceled now."

I'm only half-kidding.

Who was it who hosted the other version of Wheel of Fortune, the one Pat Sajak didn't host?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I do like Chuck Woolery, for Love Connection alone, I haven't seen his other shows.

Thank you jack. Bob Goen is the one I was thinking of. I like him on ET but he didn't seem to be as good at the hosting job as Pat Sajak is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

If this had been a year ago, I honestly wouldn't have cared if CBS had pulled the plug. But there's been such a creative resurgence of late, and they're finally making this new production model look pretty good (except from some of the hideous sets)...it would be a shame for it to go when it's finally finding its feet.

Still, maybe it's better GL go out on a high than fall back down to the doldrums when Wheeler&Co eventually screw up all the things that are working right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

My fingers are crossed that CBS does not find a viable replacement for GL because if GL is canceled ATWT will not be too far behind, it may get a couple more years at most. Also, think of all those production people out of work in this economy. Terrible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

"Guiding Light" is so much better than most soaps on air today as they have gone through transitions to make their business model work. As we know that the daytime soap genre is declining but it calls for a change within as it also calls for us daytime fans to tune in and support it. See what is going on with the Big Three Auto where the business model isn't working, this is where daytime has to start changing and now is the time. GL has made the first move in order to stay on the air and I cannot think of any legendary soap opera worth fighting for, because creatively, GL have gone leaps and bounds in the past six months.

NOW is the time to call Mr. Moonves at (212) 975-4321 and your local affiliates tell them that you want to keep the "Light" shining. GL has been rocking for the past six months and we all want the show to stay on the air so TUNE IN!!!!! It's time for us to make ourselves heard via phone, USPS mail, and e-mail and that GL is the show we watch and love because it is the longest running show on air with such rich history and compelling acting/writing.

KEEP THE "LIGHT" SHINING! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Wasn't 1.8 the ratings target GL had to hit in order to survive? Have they hit it? I wonder how P&G is doing as whole. I can easily see the company wanting to streamline and get out of the TV business altogether.

I agree with those who say no more talk shows but I suspect that's what they'll go with. There's a lot of D-listers out there who'd love to sit around a table and give their opinion on Octomom or how to leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • I know I've said it before, but I'm loving Rory Gibson as Michael. He was wasted on Young and the Restless.
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • I watched Monday's and Tuesday's episodes last night but feel asleep and missed most of Tuesday's episode. Still not happy certain characters weren't there. It makes no sense. It must be Days awful schedule of taping.

      Please register in order to view this content

       
    • Today was the day everybody recreated the flower ceremony from John and Marlena's 1999 wedding 

      Please register in order to view this content

      And once again, it was beautiful. I also couldn't help but laugh though when Brady brought up John's use of his eyebrow whenever he dealt with his kids or grandkids. It's little lighthearted moments like that, that really have helped make these episodes and this tribute so real and genuine. And even though they couldn't get Alison Sweeney back for John's memorial, I'm glad that they came up with the idea to have Eric read a letter from Sami. The way that the letter was written is pretty much what Sami would have said if she had made it back to say goodbye to John.  Marlena and Bo's eulogies were the ones that got me today. I seriously wonder if their's or anyone else's were scripted or improvised. And I agree Bo, John's huge heart and compassion was his true power.
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • Yeah, right, they've got Cam playing Love2Hate Drew in extremis & they're not gonna play that hand out?!!!  I figure they use the prison beat-down for a redemptive phase but only when they think they've wrung every possible drop out of this absolutely odious every day villain they've created!
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • Respectfully agree to disagree. We had 4 episodes with original flashbacks integrated well into contemporary scenes that were sweet, romantic, that resonated, that hit all the possible nostalgic chords & that shows me the writing team not only cares for these 2 characters but that they were really excited about writing for them. And, we also have the quote from Korte/VanEtten beginning of the year-ish that they considered Lucky & Liz a foundational couple for the canvas.  I thought Lucky's saying he didn't think he'd stay once she turned down his marriage proposal to be good character motivation. I also thought the idea of some summer travels with Aiden supports character integrity.  Going by his exit interviews, what's left is people & logistics/scheduling, etc. & there's no way a writing team can anticipate an actor taking an out in their contract ahead of time. They have to deal with it, in the moment, when it comes up & likely it's going to make a bit of a mess to whatever they have sketched out in the long story thrust. 
    • I had a driver taking me to Infusion the other day & we were talking about soaps. She was out of touch but had been a CBS fan, from TPIR, all day till Oprah. Telling her about BTG. What network? CBS. When: 2pm. Is it between ATWT & GL? Oh, girl, you are so behind. So, she was appalled when I briefly brought her up to date BUT she remained interested in hearing more about BTG, so that was a plus.  Last weekend I got a haircut so it is the way I like it, short & spiky but of course it's purple. Recently, I was waiting for my ride outside the Infusion Center & a woman comes up to me, about my age, short spiky hair but all white. She raves about my purple hair & says she is a pancreatic cancer survivor & purple is that color (which I knew) and she is thinking going purple but doesn't know where to start. So I tell her about Splat, no bleach req'd, easy, etc. & she's getting excited & my driver pulled up, & stuck her head out & said, Donna? & she had purple hair, too! I felt like we were in a purple vortex. It was both lovely & surreal.      
    • We saw Hope, with Bo, where she revealed John's death to him & he immediately wanted to leave for Salem & we saw the two of them talk to a doc or an admin about whether he would be allowed to be discharged yet.  Someone, maybe Will, talked to Sami on the phone and at the airport Sydney had taken a fall, sounded like she was on a moving sidewalk, and had at least 2 breaks & was scheduled for some kind of orthopedic surgery.  Since it is clear that Sweeney cannot or will not be available, again I say  it is time to recast.  Wasn't Carrie lock-step with Belle the whole time? In general I thought all of the eulogies were both good & appropriate. Yes, Paul touched me like no other. Loved Abe. I still miss previous Little Rachel but for the first time new Little Rachel also moved me. And, amazingly, I am caught up again. Whoopeee!  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy