Neverending Television

Guiding Light, 1952
The drama about class warfare and family fallout started as a radio serial in 1937 and just kept on going. In 1952, it transferred to television, becoming a huge daytime hit among soap-buying American housewives. But with its ratings (and, some say, its quality) plummeting in recent years, CBS recently announced the show's last episode will air in September.

• ER's Long Goodbye