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Guiding Light

1952 – 2009Show1 season214 episodesTV-14

DramaSoap
41
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb6.6

A deeply romantic, nostalgic soap series about family and everyday modern life.

Good for family movie night · teens · background watch

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for adrenaline, laughs or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 214 episodes · best: S1E8 "Episode #1.8" 9.8

Episodes

8.1
8.3

Story

Life happens here.

Guiding Light is an American television soap opera that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running television drama in history, broadcast from 1952 until 2009, preceded by a 15-year broadcast on radio. Guiding Light stands as the third longest-running program in all of broadcast history; only the Norwegian children's radio program Lørdagsbarnetimen and the American country music radio program Grand Ole Opry have been on the air longer. On April 1, 2009, it was announced that CBS canceled Guiding Light after a 72-year run due to low ratings. The show taped its final scenes for CBS on August 11, 2009, and its final episode on the network aired on September 18, 2009.

Feels like

  • Longest-Running Soap Opera
  • Generational Family Saga
  • Melodramatic Romance
  • Small-Town American Life
  • Character-Driven Drama
  • Historical Broadcast Icon
  • Emotional Turmoil
  • Slow-Paced Narrative
  • Domestic Intrigue
  • Nostalgic Cultural Artifact

Cast

24 of 40 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
John O'Connell
Written by
James E. Reilly, Lorraine Broderick
Produced by
Christopher Cullen
Music by
Kenneth Eberhard

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 30, 1952 · September 18, 2009 · Ended

First aired
June 30, 1952
Last aired
September 18, 2009
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 214 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language
Genres
Soap, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
5 countries

Tropes

Artifact Title, Sound-to-Screen Adaptation, Series Continuity Error +9

  • Artifact Title
  • Sound-to-Screen Adaptation
  • Series Continuity Error
  • Soap Opera
  • Crossover
  • Betty and Veronica
  • Sibling Yin-Yang
  • A Day in the Limelight
  • Enfant Terrible
  • Birth-Death Juxtaposition
  • Family Relationship Switcheroo
  • Fan Disservice

12 of 38 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Guiding Light?"

Questions about Guiding Light

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Guiding Light?

It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is Guiding Light worth watching?

41
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 41 (IMDb 6.6).

Is Guiding Light okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceSexual contentStrong language

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, sexual content, and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch Guiding Light?

214 h

About 214 hours: 214 episodes in 1 season of about 60 minutes each, aired from 1952 to 2009.

Is Guiding Light good for date night?

and 2 moreFamily Movie NightPartner WatchAdultsIntergenerationalPublic Viewing Safe

It's better for a family night: romance is 9 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for families.

Is Guiding Light plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Guiding Light use?

Artifact TitleSound-to-Screen AdaptationSeries Continuity ErrorSoap OperaCrossoverBetty and VeronicaSibling Yin-YangA Day in the LimelightEnfant TerribleBirth-Death JuxtapositionFamily Relationship SwitcherooFan Disserviceand 26 more

TV Tropes lists 38 tropes for it, including Artifact Title, Sound-to-Screen Adaptation, and Series Continuity Error.