QUICK TAKES - Sept. 19, 2009
Friday marked the final flicker of CBS’ “Guiding Light,” as that venerable daytime drama logged its farewell hour after 72 years on the air.
The last episode took an upbeat, life-affirming tone, complete with a scene that gathered many of the characters at a picnic in the park on a beautiful day. And the closing moments sealed the future of the show’s signature on-and-off-again supercouple: Reva (Kim Zimmer, who created the role in 1983) and Josh (Robert Newman, who started on the show in 1981).
They rendezvoused, according to plan, at the local lighthouse and declared their undying love. Then these soul mates climbed into Josh’s pickup truck.
“You ready?” asked Josh.
“Always,” Reva said.
And they drove away, as the words “The End” flashed on the screen before a final fade-out.
“Guiding Light” began on radio in 1937, then moved to TV in 1952. CBS decided to end it because of declining ratings.
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