The Guiding Light is an Emmy award winning American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. The 15,000th televised episode of Guiding Light aired on September 7, 2006. Due to this series run, it is not only considered to be the longest soap opera, but the longest-running scripted show in history. It has been announced that Guiding Light has been renewed into its 72nd season through 2009.

The program was created by soap writer Irna Phillips, and began as an NBC radio serial on January 25, 1937 before moving to CBS on June 30, 1952, as a televised serial.

The show's title refers to a lamp in the study of Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge, a major character when Guiding Light debuted in 1937, that family and residents could see as a sign for them to find help when needed.

The Guiding Light has been broadcast from three locations: Chicago, Illinois, from 1937 until 1946, Hollywood, California, from 1947 until 1949, and New York City from 1949 until the present. It was moved from Chicago to Hollywood (despite objections of both Irna Phillips and Arthur Peterson) to take advantage of the talent pool. Production was subsequently moved to New York City, where it remains. It is currently taped at the CBS studios in midtown Manhattan. Since shortly before February 29, 2008 outdoor scenes have been shot on location in Peapack, New Jersey. The location filming coincided with another significant production change, as the series became the first American weekday soap opera to be filmed digitally.

Daytime Emmy Awards for Guiding Light:
* 1980 Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
* 1981 Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series
* 1982 Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
* 1982 Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series
* 1982 Outstanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts (Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork)
* 1983 Outstanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts (Lighting Direction)
* 1984 Outstanding Achievement in Design Excellence for a Daytime Drama Series
* 1985 Outstanding Direction for a Drama Series
* 1985 Outstanding Achievement by a Drama Series Design Team - Ronald M. Kelson
* 1986 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
* 1986 Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series
* 1986 Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series
* 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
* 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Drama Series
* 1990 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
* 1991 Outstanding Original Song: "Love Like This"
* 1991 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 1992 Outstanding Original Song: "I Knew That I'd Fall"
* 1992 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 1992 Outstanding Achievement in Graphics and Title Design
* 1993 Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
* 1993 Outstanding Achievement in Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama Series
* 1994 Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team
* 1994 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 1995 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
* 1995 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
* 1996 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 1996 Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Drama Series
* 1996 Outstanding Live and Direct-to-Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series
* 1996 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
* 1998 Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 1998 Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series
* 1998 Outstanding Original Song: "Hold Me"
* 2007 Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
* 2007 Outstanding Daytime Drama Series (tie, with The Young and the Restless)
* 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series
* 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Live & Direct To Tape Sound Mixing For A Drama Series
* 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Multiple Camera Editing

Links
Guiding Light on CBS
Who's Who on SoapCentral
TV Guide
GL Discussion Group

They should bring back Shane and Marah too. Didn't Marah and Jeffrey have a thing? Bringing Marah back now that Jeffrey and Reva are getting married could be interesting. Phillip, Nick, Abigail, Alan-Michael, "Manny," Ross, and Ed should all be back. Roxy is a character that hasn't been seen in, like, 20 years who has ties to lots of people. It would be nice to see people that are in town already. Kevin and Jason, Clarissa, Zach and Jude, James, RJ, Maureen, Leah, or bring Rocky back from England already. Rick has no kids with Blake, the twins were both Ross'. Rick has no kids with Abby, she left after her cochlear implant story being childless. Reva has one child with Billy-Dylan, two with Josh-Marah and Shane, and one with Richard-Jonathon.