Fighting back

Various sources have reported on an article posted last night by Josef Adalian in TV Week. The article suggests that CBS is looking for a replacement for Guiding Light.

The article states, in part: CBS may soon decide to pull the plug on “Guiding Light,” the longest-running daytime drama in television history.

While no final decision has been made, the network’s deal for the Procter & Gamble-produced drama-the least watched of the eight daytime serials currently on the air-ends in September. But if CBS does drop “Guiding Light,” it likely would lock in a decision within the next month, people familiar with the matter said. That would give writers a chance to tie up storylines.

CBS also would need to finalize new programming for the daytime hour that “Guiding Light” would be vacating. In the most significant indication that the network is seriously pondering life without “Guiding Light,” CBS has been talking to outside studios about potential replacement programming for the show, sources said.

DISCLAIMER: Even though this is a site for opinion and commentary, I strive to be as objective as I possibly can. Ladies and gentlemen, I am tossing that objectivity into the fire and unabashedly playing cheerleader for this show that I love.

I’m imploring fans to take action. Various sites have wisely suggested contacting Barbara Bloom and Les Moonves. Their contact information:

Barbara Bloom: Senior VP, CBS Daytime Programs, CBS Television

7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Les Moonves: (212) 975-4321

And understand, contacting Barbara Bloom and Les Moonves is great, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH.  Here’s some other things you can do.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CBS AFFILIATE. Make sure that they understand you watch GL, that you watch their news and patronize their advertisers. If you’re in the female 18-49 demographic (and I’m looking at a lot of Otalia fans here!) mentioning that fact might help.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER. Almost every newspaper has a TV critic or someone that writes about arts & entertainment. As with the local TV station, contact them. Talk to them about why you love the show, and why it’s worth watching. Let them know that it’s worth talking about in their column. If the critic isn’t receptive, try some senior editors or even the city desk.

CONTACT THE NATIONAL PRESS: This means Entertainment Weekly (Michael Ausiello), TVGuide (Michael Logan and any one of their other staffers), E! (Kristin Dos Santos), USAToday (Robert Bianco), maybe Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily, and folks at the LATimes and NYTimes. With the interest of the LGBT press in the Otalia story, you could also contact The Advocate, AfterElton.com and AfterEllen.com and ask them to talk about GL’s future.

UPDATED TO ADD: Entertainment Weekly mentions the TVWeek article in today’s PopWatch blog. I’d suggest commenting here (EW doesn’t require registration so it’s easy to comment).

UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA. If you’re on Facebook, MySpace, LiveJournal or Twitter, tell your friends about the show. (There’s a Facebook group out there that’s working on the save-GL effort.)  And NOT just your soap friends, but everyone. You never know who’s a closet soap fan!

And I’m going to say one more thing, as clear as I possibly can.

IF YOU ARE A SOAP FAN – OF ***ANY*** SOAP –  YOU SHOULD TAKE ACTION. Even if you’re not a fan of Guiding Light, or the new production model, it is in your interest and the interest of the show that you love that GL stays on the air. Understand that if GL is canceled, it will start a domino effect. If/when GL and/or DAYS disappears, you can expect other shows to follow quickly in their footsteps. There is strength in numbers – and in history.

P.S. If you’re a fan who lives in the Chicago area, please contact me (by leaving a quick note in the comments).