"Guiding Light" is aptly named. For more than 70 years, it led the way on the radio and TV as similar steamy dramas followed, basking in its glow of the booming soap-opera genre. Now CBS has pulled the plug on "Guiding Light," the longest-running drama in TV and radio history.

There are only seven soaps left in daytime: "All My Children," "One Life to Live," "As the World Turns," "General Hospital," "Days of Our Lives," "The Young and the Restless" and "Bold and the Beautiful." Previously dead and buried: "Another World," "The Doctors," "Edge of Night," "Passions," "Port Charles," "Ryan's Hope," "Santa Barbara," "Search for Tomorrow."

Three times "Guiding Light" won best drama series at the Daytime Emmys: 1980, 1982 and 2007 (tying "The Young and the Restless"). "Guiding Light" won 67 Emmys, 28 for acting. Kim Zimmer claimed four lead actress trophies (1985, 1987, 1990, 2006). The show's other lead-acting champs included Justin Deas (1995, 1997), Cynthia Watros (1998) and Michael Zaslow (1994). "Guiding Light" won six Emmys for best writing (1981, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2007) and two for best direction (1985, 1995).

In The Envelope's message boards, our posters are really whipped up into a lather over the loss of the great TV soaper. Sample comments:

Boidiva02: "This is a very sad day in TV history."

YoungRestlessOne: "This is the death knell for the soap opera genre. I really think by 2015 or 2020 there will only be two or three soaps remaining."