It seems all but certain that CBS will replace Guiding Light with a game show — and that would be sad, even though I have nothing against the Pyramid or any other 1970s-era, Dick-Clark-hosted game that may be repurposed for daytime. I just think (no, wish) that the networks would use the opportunity to rethink the soap opera genre before kicking it to the curb. And it’s not like some potential solutions are completely out-of-the-reach! Why, CBS may have an alternative right in its own backyard: The network has already made a deal with Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick (thirtysomething) to develop a fall series about a happy union called, simply, A Marriage. Since I see that confection lasting all of maybe two weeks on a network that has made its mark with bloody, action procedurals like CSI and Criminal Minds, I’d like to offer up a better use of time for two of the greatest producers alive.
Granted, it’s a total pie-in-the-sky, never-gonna-happen proposition, but a girl can certainly dream: Imagine if the ailing genre wasn’t considered such a ghetto for class acts like the thirtysomething creators, and these two scribes actually jumped at the chance to bring their brand of angst-filled chick lit to the daytime screen. Expensive? Hell, yes! But what soap fan wouldn’t set their TiVo to a revamped (see: much cheaper and more drawn-out) version of, say, Once and Again (below)? Heck, even having Herskovitz and Zwick consult on a new daytime drama (one they conceptualized, of course) is better than nothing at all. Whaddya say, ladies and gents? Start the petition drive now!
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I LOVED Once & Again! Watching that again made me want to cry. I really miss that show. Not to mention Another Bedord Falls series, My So-Called Life.
Is ‘thirtysomething’ ever, ever, ever coming out on DVD?!?
The reason you’ll never get guys like that doing daytime is that the pace of scripted daytime production is punishing. Writers have to produce five scripts a week about 50-51 weeks a year, with only the occasional days off from airing (Thanksgiving, etc.) It’s very difficult to do polished writing on that kind of a schedule, which is one reason why soap fans are so forgiving of some of the odd twists and turns/low production values that confound non-viewers. You just can’t turn out that much scripted TV that quickly any other way.
I’d LOVE to see the genre re-invent itself. What’s wrong with flipping the switch a little? Port Charles was on to something with their 13-week story arcs. Shorter arcs mean less filler and actual payoffs for the viewers before their children go from infancy to high school. Night Shift 2 was on to something when they got a writer with no soap experience to write that one. It was fresh and well-paced. Trouble is that the head honchos at all 3 networks are basically cowards with no vision. They’d rather scrap the whole thing instead of realizing that there will always be a market for character-driven dramas. The genre just needs to be revamped a little bit for the new millenium. It’s a shame that these are the folks making the decisions. What a waste.
I was just going through the list of soaps that have been cancelled over the years. And I was struck by the premise of Edge of Night (I’ve never actually seen it, it didn’t air on farmervision in Saskatchewan).
Why couldn’t they revamp that one. You follow a cop or private eye on cases in a big city. There’s a core of say 10 characters who are connected to the cop/gumshoe and a whole bunch of off shoot actors who appear in roles as they are needed.
You look at the cast of most of the soaps now and their contract list is over 30 actors…pare it down.
Port Charles was on to something with the 13 week story arcs and a much smaller cast.
Guiding Light was onto something with the real life houses and real outdoors filming.
Why can all of these elements not be brought together into a programme that has drama and tension for women and the occasional action scene for men???
And yes, I know that soap writing is hard, but I think it’s time to rewrite the book on how these shows are written.
I am devastated by the cancellation of “Guiding Light.” I have honestly been watching the show since nursery school.
My mother would pick me up for lunch and we would watch the soap together. I am now in my fifties. I cannot imagine what the network was thinking.I am totally invested in the great storylines and characters. What will I ever do without Reva, Josh, Alan, Phillip, Beth, Rick and the newcomers who are fantastic…Lizzie, Bill, Marina, Mallett, Natalia, et.al.
The cast is absolutely top-notch–the
acting can rival anyone in film. The soap opera genre IS NOT DEAD. Another mediocre, stupid game show will never take the place of one of the finest shows on television. I am so disappointed–it is truly like a death and I know I am not the only person on the planet who feels this way.
I’d just as soon not see Guiding Light replaced with another soap opera. Kind of a slap in the face at their 72 years. And for what it’s worth, GL was trying to revamp soaps and create them in a different way, albeit to cut costs. I’m just hoping GL finds a home somewhere else.
I think this is a good idea. Or, along similar lines, this is where you try out the internet web series that you want to bring to network TV.
I’m attached and invested in most of characters on “Guiding Light” already. I don’t want to go and get invested in new characters on a new show. I’d rather people work to save the show already on the air, which has been for 72 years.
“Once and Again” should have never been cancelled, either.
I think Guiding Light started to go down when Gus and Harley left the show. I started losing interest because the story lines started to get, in a way, comedic.
Cancel GL? Who’s stupid idea was that? Re-vamp the show. Add some humor, we could all use that these days. Of all the soaps on GL and Y&R are the only two I watch.
i think it is so stupid that you all are going to cancel Guiding Light for some stupid gameshow. My grandmother watches the soaps from 12:30 until 4 from the time that they start until they go off she is watching them. She is 77 years old and she has been watching them for over 30 years. and she love guiding light. and so do i cause i love reva. heck i love them all and i am 24 years old and watch them everyday. so please dont get rid of it you will be making alot of people mad. And it would not be the same. thank you.
I am saddened at the cancellation of GL. I have watched this show since I was a little girl along with my mother who now is 88 yrs.old. She even listened to the pre-t.v.days when it was on radio. The storyline has had its ups and downs- which show hasn’t? Perhaps the producers do not realize the size of their audience. Some of us don’t belong to the fan clubs but instead watch quietly and enjoy year after year. I tape the show or watch the episodes online, in the evening as there is often so many channels available but nothing worth watching. GL has always been a favorite. What a shame- I can imagine the replacement show- probably not worth watching.
Ratings problems at GL began when previous producers were given too much freedom to dessmiante the core Bauera and Reardon families. Ed Bauer, Mike Bauer, Nola, and Quint BELONG on that canvas…they’d bring in the new families like the mob one or the Coopers that never had any long-staying power because they had no history with the show. Lisa Brown is one of, it not the best, actress to ever grace daytime TV. I understand the need to create fresh storylines and new engaging characters — but IT DOESN’T WORK! History shows it over and over again… GL had HUGE ratings 10 – 15 years ago. If a small fraction came back with a revamped, back – to – basics show –with core characters that need to be there (like Nola and even Hope Bauer Spaulding), and if the network promoted the show properly in prime time, viewers would come back. I don’t think the network ever promoted Joan Collins in prime time when she joined tas Alexandra Spaulding – prime time viewers would have FLOCKED to watch
(sorry for typos, I type fast when I’m passionate about something) coming from someone who created and produced a weekly college soap opera years ago, with budget constraints and the like… and someone who has watched several soaps over the years.. if the GL powers that be would listen to those of us who helped give the show #1 ratings back in the 80’s…who are now raising children who watch TV with us…. there wouldn’t be any ratings issues. Grass roots America needs a voice in these network decisions.. the game of “revolving producers and writers” that GL played for so many years didn’t work.. they needed a solid, cohesive vision.. the foundation laid by Agnes Nixon and Douglas Marland. Creativity with storylines motivated by characters that viewers connect with and entertain … NOT characters thrown in just to make a change or add some spice. That type of action (like the clone storyline) is only a band-aid to the problem…it doesn’t heal the wound completely.