Huzzah! 'Project Runway' return date set

Lights go out for CBS' "Guiding Light"

 

CBS said this morning that it was pulling the plug on the longest-running drama in television history, "Guiding Light," after years of sinking ratings and dramatic shifts in viewer preferences. 

Launched by soap company Procter & Gamble during the Great Depression, the show has been on the air for 72 years and was the pioneer of the "soap opera" genre.

The daytime drama will broadcast its last episode on Friday, Sept. 18.

Created by Irna Phillips, the show started on NBC radio in January 1937 as a 15 minute serial.  It moved to the CBS television network in 1952.   In 1967, the "Guiding Light" was broadcast in color and soon expanded to 30 minutes and later to a full hour.

"Guiding Light" has achieved a piece of television history that will never be matched; it has crossed mediums, adapted its stories to decades of social change and woven its way through generations of audiences like no other," said Nancy Tellem, president of CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group. "This daytime icon will always be an indelible part of CBS' history."

The fictional town of Springfield and the show has helped launched the careers of many actors,  including Kevin Bacon, James Earl Jones, Calista Flockhart, Allison Janney, Cicely Tyson, Taye Diggs and Hayden Panettiere.

-- Meg James

Photo from the set from "Guiding Light" by George de Sota/JPIstudios.com

   

Huzzah! 'Project Runway' return date set

Raise your stilettos in celebration: "Project Runway" has been freed from TV limbo.

Lifetime and Bravo announced Wednesday that they have resolved their legal tussle over the show at long last. The Weinstein Company, which owns the show, tried last year to take "Runway" to Lifetime but Bravo, its home for five seasons, cried foul. All the legal unpleasantness is over now, and the sixth season of the catwalk chronicle, much of which was filmed in Los Angeles, will finally air on Lifetime this summer.

Personally, I'm glad that the show has been off the air for a while. I think we all needed the break. Seasons 4 and 5 aired too close together, and Season 5 was far from my favorite outing of the reality show. I don't know about you, but I needed some time to shake off my "PR" irritation. But now I am more than ready for some hot messes and some Tim Gunn.

Here's a statement from NBC Universal, Bravo's parent company, on the settlement: "NBC Universal, The Weinstein Company and Lifetime have resolved theirdisputes. The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move'Project Runway' to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with theoutcome.  Harvey Weinstein added, 'I want to personally congratulateJeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jefffor resolving this in a professional manner.  We look forward toworking together on our ongoing projects.'"

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CBS Ending 'Guiding Light'

CBS said Wednesday the long-running soap Guiding Light will have its final episode in Sept. 18. The show, which holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running television drama, has had a 72-year run that predates TV.