The Guiding Light (GL) was the longest-running American soap opera. Show development 2000 - 2004 Claire Labine took over as head writer in 2000, but her stories focused on character development and reportedly clashed with Rauch's plot-heavy style. Labine's team lasted barely a year and she was replaced briefly by Lloyd Gold. Millee Taggart took the writing reins in 2002, and Taggart's run had some critical acclaim, breaking away from the organized crime and royalty which had dominated Guiding Light over the past few years. Taggart tried to focus on more traditional story lines, including Reva pulling the plug on a critically injured Richard in 2002. During this time, Guiding Light also tried to reinvigorate the role of Alexandra Spaulding by offering the role to Dynasty star Joan Collins. In early 2003, veteran producer John Conboy and Ellen Weston took charge of the show. Weston had acted on Guiding Light, and had been a writer with several prime-time movie credits, but had never been a head writer for a soap opera. Conboy's first move was to relegate several veteran performers to recurring status, including Maureen Garrett, Beth Chamberlin and Elizabeth Keifer. However, Conboy and Weston were eventually fired after only a year. Ellen Wheeler of Another World and All My Children fame became executive producer in the spring of 2004. Her regime addressed unresolved plots. Wheeler and writer David Kreizman won praise from viewers and critics at first. The serial won the Writers Guild of America Award for best written daytime serial in 2005 and the show was the only one nominated. But the show's ratings continued to stagnate and in early 2005, it was revealed that Procter & Gamble had ordered Guiding Light to take a large budget cut. The actors themselves would also see a reduction in salary, and long-time stars Michael O'Leary, Jerry verDorn, and Marj Dusay were taken off contract. As a result of being dropped to recurring, Jerry verDorn, the longest running actor and character (Ross Marler) on the show, quit and joined ABC's One Life to Live. Dusay and O'Leary remained on a recurring basis. Nancy St. Alban, Doug Hutchinson, Paul Anthony Stewart and David Andrew MacDonald were fired as a result of the budget cuts. Stephen Martines asked for and was granted a release from his contract. Daniel Cosgrove, who played Bill Lewis since 2002 opted not to renew his contract and also