‘Guiding Light’ eligible for final awards

McClatchy newspapers

When the Daytime Emmys air Sunday (8 p.m., The CW), it will mark the final time that “Guiding Light” is eligible for an award.

The soap, which has aired on radio and TV for 72 years, will be gone as of Sept. 18. This year, “GL” got four nominations, including Daniel Cosgrove for lead actor and Jeff Branson for supporting actor.

“The Guiding Light” (as the soap was originally titled) began on NBC radio Jan. 25, 1937, and revolved around a minister named the Rev. Dr. John Ruthledge (played by Arthur Peterson) and his congregation in Five Points, Ill.

The show’s title refers to a lamp in the reverend’s study. Family and residents could see the lamp as a sign for them to find help.