Here are some of the news stories posted on soapcentral.com's Guiding Light section during the 2002 calendar year. To access articles from other years or to review articles with similar themes, please see the RELATED INFORMATION box directly below this text.

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There are unconfirmed reports that Wesley A. Ramsey (Sam Spencer) has been released from his contract with Guiding Light.

On January 25th, 2002, Guiding Light marks another major milestone - its 65th anniversary.

According to setside sources, Susan Pratt's (Claire Ramsey) contract with Guiding Light will not been renewed. Pratt's future with the show has been fodder for Internet rumors for several weeks.

Rick Hearst (ex Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless; ex Alan-Michael Spaulding, Guiding Light) has joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful.

Rumors are circulating that despite the fact that she recently signed a new four-year contract with All My Children, Marj Dusay (Vanessa Cortlandt) is not sure if she'll be around to see the end of the contract.

A report made exclusively by soapcentral.com earlier this week has now been confirmed: Guiding Light has fired Jim Davidson (Alonzo Baptiste).

The casting changes continue at Guiding Light. soapcentral.com has learned that yet another performer will soon be let go.

Not all of the casting news out of Guiding Light is about someone leaving the show. According to setside sources, show execs are actively courting Peter Simon (ex Ed Bauer) with the hopes that he will return to the show.

Soap Opera Central joins the soap opera community in mourning the death of Mary Stuart (Meta Bauer). Stuart, a member of the Soap Opera Hall of Fame, died at her home in New York City of complications from a stroke. She was 75.

Two-time Daytime Emmy winner Kevin Mambo (ex Marcus Williams, Guiding Light) is said to be up for the part of All My Children's Frank.

Veteran soap opera scribe Millee Taggart has been named to the head writing team of Guiding Light. Taggert will join head writer Lloyd "Lucky" Gold and co-head writer Christopher Dunn.

Though he had repeatedly turned down request to return to Guiding Light, Peter Simon (ex Ed Bauer) has apparently had a change of heart.

The Boudreau family, which debuted last fall to much fanfare from fans, will soon be getting some new faces - but it won't be in the form of new family members. Two of the performers currently portraying Boudreaues will soon be exiting.

Though a show spokesperson declined to comment on the rumors, there is ongoing chatter that Bradley Cole (Richard Winslow) will be exiting Guiding Light when his contract expires later this year.

In a statement on his official web site, Bradley Cole (Richard Winslow) confirms reports made last month about his upcoming departure from Guiding Light.

Banyan Productions' "A Wedding Story" recently filmed their first "mockumentary" on the set of CBS' "Guiding Light" when characters Reva (Kim Zimmer) and Josh (Robert Newman) got hitched during the drama series' 50th season.

Every performer has their own unique way of getting into character. Some actors sit quietly in their dressing room and meditate while others study their lines for hours while trying to determine how their character would react. For Beth Chamberlin (Beth Raines and Lorelei Hills), the best way to get into character is to keep a diary.

Soap fans are known industry-wide for their sometimes rabid interest in their favorite daytime dramas. Let's face it-soap fans are a pretty loyal and determined bunch. Now fans of Guiding Light have a new way to become closer to their favorite show.

Beginning later this year, Former "Dynasty" diva Joan Collins will assume the role of Guiding Light's Alexandra Spaulding. In addition to her work on Dynasty, Collins has dozens of film credits in her portfolio as well as a host of tele-films.

Beth Ehlers (Harley Cooper) will temporarily be sidelined from her work on Guiding Light. Ehlers fractured her wrist during a Fourth of July softball game as castmate Laura Wright's (Cassie Winslow) home.

Guiding Light has opted to age the role of Lizzie Spaulding. The move to make the character a sixteen-year-old was done for storyline reasons, but the decision also means that the role will be recast.

According to a posting on her official web site, Marj Dusay (Vanessa Cortlandt; ex Alexandra Spaulding, Guiding Light) has been released from her contract with All My Children.

Congratulations to Yvonna Kopacz (Mel Bauer) and her fiancé Brett Wright on the birth of a healthy baby girl. Lola Athena May Wright was born on August 18th. The baby weigh in at 7 pounds, 3/4 ounces, and measured 20 inches long.

Effective immediately, Carolyn Culliton will assume co-head writing duties of Guiding Light with current scribe Millie Taggart. The change comes as Guiding Light experiences its lowest ratings in recent memory.

Michael Dietz (ex Joe Scanlon, Port Charles; ex Alan-Michael Spaulding, Guiding Light) will join the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful next month.

Less than a month after the demotion of head writer Lloyd "Lucky" Gold comes word that Guiding Light's executive producer intends to step down.

Though rumors persist to the contrary, a spokesperson for Guiding Light insists that the show will not be recasting the role of Roger Thorpe.

Only a matter of weeks after his dismissal from CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful, Rick Hearst (ex Whipple Jones, B&B; ex Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless; ex Alan-Michael Spaulding, Guiding Light) has landed a contract role on ABC's General Hospital.

While Guiding Light continues its search for a new executive producer, the show has managed to come up with someone to take over the helm temporarily.

Ryan Brown (ex Bill Lewis, Guiding Light) has been tapped to play Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless.

It was to much fanfare that Joan Collins (Alexandra Collins) joined the cast of Guiding Light earlier this year. Now, after only a few months, comes word that the actress is leaving the show.

In what is seen as a surprise to some, co-head writer Millee Taggart has announced that she is stepping down from her position due to "personal reasons."

Bradley Cole (ex Richard Winslow, Guiding Light) will make a guest appearance on All My Children in January. Cole will play Jordan Roberts, a friend of Erica Kane.

John Conboy has been named the new executive producer of Guiding Light. Conboy succeeds Paul Rauch who stepped down last month after six years at the show's helm.

Ellen Weston has been named the new head writer of Guiding Light. She succeeds Lloyd "Lucky" Gold, who was relieved of his duties earlier this year, and Millei Taggart, who announced that she would step down because of personal reasons.

Saundra Santiago (Carmen Santos) will once again be exiting Guiding Light. Fans of the show will know that this is not the first time that the actress has been released from her contract.