"Guiding Light" is a long-running American soap opera that originally began as a radio show in 1937 before transitioning to television in 1952. The series was created by Irna Phillips and focused on the lives, relationships, and challenges of the Bauer and Lewis families in the fictional town of Springfield. The show is known for its engaging storytelling and character development, often tackling social issues and personal struggles. "Guiding Light" holds the record for the longest-running drama in American history, concluding its television run in 2009 after 72 years of production across both mediums.