6.0
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Guiding Light (1952)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 6.0
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
Bias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Christianity: Positive
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The film's central focus on interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and moral dilemmas within a community context positions it as largely apolitical, reflecting general societal values rather than promoting a specific political ideology.
The movie, a long-running soap opera, featured a visibly diverse cast that evolved over its many decades, though without explicit DEI-driven recasting of established roles. Its narrative primarily focused on interpersonal drama, maintaining a neutral or positive framing of traditional identities rather than offering systemic critiques.
Secondary
Guiding Light featured a groundbreaking and positively depicted same-sex relationship between Olivia Spencer and Natalia Rivera Aitoro. Their storyline explored the complexities of love, identity, and acceptance, ultimately affirming their bond despite societal challenges. The show portrayed their relationship with dignity and depth, contributing significantly to LGBTQ+ representation in daytime television.
Originating as a radio drama about a minister, the series consistently portrayed Christianity as a foundational moral compass and source of comfort for its characters. While individual adherents might face moral failings, the narrative generally affirmed Christian virtues and community values, positioning the faith as a positive influence.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Guiding Light is a long-running soap opera where characters are established with a consistent gender. There is no evidence or widely known instance of an established character's gender being changed during its run.
Guiding Light is a long-running original soap opera, not an adaptation of a prior work with established character races. While characters were recast over its decades-long run, there are no widely recognized instances of a character canonically established as one race being portrayed as a different race.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.5
5.5
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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