Editing Guiding Light (section)

===2000s===
{{Main|Guiding Light (2000–2009)}}

The 2000s began with the division of the show into two locales: Springfield and the fictional island nation of San Cristobel. In Springfield, the Santos mob dynasty created much of the drama. Meanwhile, the royal Winslow family had their own series of intrigues with which to deal. During 2002, however, San Cristobel was eliminated from the series and the mob's influence in the story was subsequently diminished and, with the departure of character Danny Santos during 2005, eliminated altogether. Also, ''Guiding Light'' celebrated its 50th anniversary as a television show on June 30, 2002.

During 2004, former director and actress [[Ellen Wheeler]] (Emmy Award winner as an actress for the series ''[[All My Children]]'' and ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'') took over as executive producer of ''Guiding Light.'' She and writer [[David Kreizman]] made numerous changes to the sets, stories, and the cast. Several veteran actors were eliminated, mainly because of budget decreases. Because of the lack of veteran influence, Wheeler reemphasized the youth of Springfield, especially the controversial pairing of cousins Jonathan and Tammy.

During 2006, an episode featured character Harley Cooper gaining heroic abilities. The episode was semi-continued in an 8-page story in select [[Marvel Comics]] productions.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/arts/television/31guid.html?_r=1&ref=arts | work=The New York Times | title=Pulpy TV and Soapy Comics Find a Lot to Agree On | date=October 31, 2006 | access-date=May 4, 2010}}</ref>

The series had its 70th broadcast anniversary during 2007. The anniversary was commemorated with the initiation of website FindYourLight.net and a program of outreach, representing Irna Phillips' original message. There was also a special episode during January 2007, with current cast members playing Phillips and some of the earlier cast members. The series also introduced special beginning credits commemorating the anniversary. The show had a rotating slate of writers, including veteran GL writers Lucky Gold, Chris Dunn, and [[Jill Lorie Hurst]], who was eventually named head writer.

Despite low ratings, the show won 2007 Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Writing and Best Show (sharing Best Show with'' [[The Young and the Restless]]'').

====Cancellation and final episode====
On April 1, 2009, CBS announced that it would not renew ''Guiding Light'', and the last broadcast date would be September 18, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2009 |title=Guiding Light, Snuffed: Scene From A Dying Daytime Drama |website=[[The New York Observer]] |url=https://observer.com/2009/09/guiding-light-snuffed-scene-from-a-dying-daytime-drama/ |access-date=30 March 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628092204/https://observer.com/2009/09/guiding-light-snuffed-scene-from-a-dying-daytime-drama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Because April 1 is also [[April Fools' Day]], a day heavily associated with jokes and pranks, many people—even some of the cast and crew members—did not believe the news, thinking that it was another April Fools' Day prank.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2009 |title=Guiding Light, Snuffed: Scene From A Dying Daytime Drama |website=[[The New York Observer]] |url=https://observer.com/2009/09/guiding-light-snuffed-scene-from-a-dying-daytime-drama/ |access-date=30 March 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628092204/https://observer.com/2009/09/guiding-light-snuffed-scene-from-a-dying-daytime-drama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Procter & Gamble initially announced that they would attempt to find another outlet to distribute the series, but later admitted that they had been unsuccessful in doing so, and that on September 18, 2009, after 57 years on television (preceded by 15 years on radio for a total broadcast history of 72 years), ''Guiding Light'' would end its broadcast history on CBS.

Storylines were resolved in the final weeks of the series, and numerous characters from the series' past passed through Springfield one last time. Among the returnees were the characters of Nola, Holly and Mindy; Josh told Reva that he was leaving Springfield for a job for the next year, but proposes that he return one year from that date and, if by that time, she wants to reunite with him, she should meet him at the lighthouse and, if she is not there, he will assume she is not interested.

The final episode is pleasant, featuring many of the characters gathering in the park for a large picnic. Toward the end of the episode, it jumps forward one year, by which time, Phillip and Beth have reunited, as have Rick and Mindy. Olivia and Natalia, happy with their new baby, pick up Rafe as he returns from the army. The episode concludes with Josh arriving at the lighthouse, as promised, and finding Reva there. They declare their undying love. James, Ashlee, and Daisy leave Springfield and relocate to [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], [[California]]. Josh asks if Reva is packed, to go on an adventure. The two grab the luggage, and with Reva's young son, they climb into Josh's [[pick-up truck]]. Josh says to Reva, "You ready?" She replies "always," a callback to her promise of "Always, Bud" that Reva uttered to Josh many times on the show. As the truck drives away with the [[lighthouse]] in the background, ''"The End"'' appears on the screen before a final fadeout. The song heard playing in the background during the final scene is "Together" by [[Michelle Branch]].<ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-bonus-guiding-finale-0918.ar0sep19,0,3667853.story |author=Moore, Frazier |date=September 19, 2009 |title=Associated Press report |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=September 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922170341/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-bonus-guiding-finale-0918.ar0sep19,0,3667853.story |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The final episode also included the original tag line, with some revision, printed on the screen with the words "There is a destiny that makes us FAMILY" (replacing the word 'brothers'), as well as quick film clips of each of the show's title cards and announcers during the nearly six decades it was on television, leading to the show's former long-time beginning announcement: "And now, ''The Guiding Light''".