9/18/2009

in

The daytime soap ends its 72 year run, and goes out as the longest running drama in broadcast history.

Tom Helberg

[![36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards - Show](http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/2/1/f/b/36th_Annual_Daytime_4572.jpg?adImageId=3128871&imageId=6246496)](http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=guiding light&iid=6246496)


Soap opera "Guiding Light," the longest running drama in broadcast history, aired its final episode on Friday after a 72 year run.  
  
The program started as a 15 minute NBC radio serial in 1937 and moved to television on CBS in 1952.  
  
"Guiding Light" was canceled due to declining ratings, averaging around 2 million viewers per episode, [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE58H5QU20090918) reports. It was the least watched of all the network soaps. CBS announced in April that it was cancelling the show but said that it "achieved a piece of television history that will never be matched."  
  
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said in a statement "as the show's trademark lighthouse dims one last time today, AFTRA members join the world in celebrating the contributions this award-winning program has made to entertainment."  
  
Starting Oct. 5 CBS will replace the soap with game show "Let's Make a Deal."