Network: CBS
Episodes: 13,858 (1956-75: half-hour, 1976-2010: hour)
Seasons: 54
TV show dates: October 3, 1961 — September 17, 2010
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Helen Wagner, Maura West, Michael Park, Roger Howarth, Terri Colombino, Marie Wilson, Grayson McCouch, Jon Hensley, Kelley Menighan Hensley, Trent Dawson, Jennifer Landon, Jesse Lee Soffer, Ellen Dolan, Colleen Zenk Pinter, Van Hansis, Martha Byrne, Don Hastings, Mick Hazen, Elizabeth Hubbard, Austin Peck, Alexandra Chando, Marnie Schulenburg, Zach Roerig, Ewa Da Cruz, Mark Collier, Noelle Beck, Scott Holmes, Jennifer Ferrin, Julie Pinson, Jake Silbermann, Kathryn Hays, Jon Lindstrom, Marie Masters, Billy Magnussen, Elena Goode, Cady McClain, Kathleen Widdoes, Paolo Seganti, Meredith Hagner, Kin Shriner, Agim Kaba, Benjamin Hendrickson, Paul Leyden, Ashley Greiner, Allie Gorenc, Dylan Bluestone, Eileen Fulton, Scott Bryce, Terri Garber, Justine Cotsonas, Jordana Brewster, Dylan Bruce, Spencer Grammer, Jeffrey Meek, Daniel Manche, Chauntee Schuler, Hunt Block, Dylan Denton, Lesli Kay, Jordan Woolley, Napiera Groves, Tamara Tunie, Bailey Harkins, Jon Prescott, Jessica Dunphy, Jake Weary, Alyssa Diaz, and Ellery Capshaw.
TV show description:
The creation of Irna Phillips, this long-running soap opera takes place in the fictional community of Oakdale, Illinois. When the program began, it favored character development and psychological realism over melodrama. The stories move at the same pace as life itself, just as the world turns.
The show began revolving mainly around the upper middle-class Hughes family but over time has grown to focus on others as well. The self-made Stewart brood frequently clashes with the Hughes, both professionally and personally. The country Snyder clan has had its own share of entertaining clashes and successes as they mingle with the townies of Oakdale. Finally, the sophisticated and worldly Ryan family; a brood of flawed angels and devils whose passionate value of family often leads them into dangerous territory.
Despite the program’s reputation for being conservative, it was the first soap opera to have a regular character give birth to a child out of wedlock and to feature an openly gay character as a regular. The soap also became well known for its performers staying with the program for many years. Helen Wagner, who played matriarch Nancy Hughes in the first episode, played the role for almost the entire run of the series, until her death in May 2010.
Episode #13,858
Bob packs up his office before he and Kim move to Arizona. As he does, he reflects on his life and long career as a doctor in this town. Alison wakes Casey up on the day they move to Carbondale. Chris proposes to Katie, and she accepts. Holden goes fishing with Ethan. Tom and Margo, and Chris and Katie agree to swap houses — one for a (hopefully) growing family and one for a pair of new empty-nesters.
Dusty and Janet introduce Jack and Carly to their baby, Lorenzo Dustin Donovan. Jack and Carly are almost a trimester into Carly’s pregnancy and Sage can’t wait to announce it. Faith gets Parker to supervise her driving, but she speeds and gets them into trouble. Parker tries to take the heat for it, and Jack and Carly see themselves in the teens.
Luke is bereft after the loss of Reid, but he finds some solace in his family, especially Natalie. Paul wants out of his business with Barbara. He and Emily are surprised when Henry and Barbara meet them for dinner and Barbara wants out, too. It looks like Lily and Holden will find their way back to each other.
Craig wants the same for himself and Rosanna, whom Johnny is excited to see. Lucinda and John are once again a couple and Lisa supports them.
Kim gives Bob all the time he needs in his office. Filled with emotion, Bob packs his nameplate in his briefcase, and moves towards the door. He looks back at the desk and says “good night” (the first words spoken in the series were “good morning”). He turns out the light and leaves. A spotlight comes up on the globe on his desk and the world starts turning as the scene fades to black.
You can watch the last episode here.
First aired: September 17, 2010.
What do you think? Do you like the As the World Turns TV series? Do you with that it had continued? Were you satisfied by the series finale?
Image courtesy CBS.
Unfortunately this show shot itself in the foot. Letting Martha Byrne walk was a massive mistake, and the other huge problem was not riding on the momentum of Luke and Noah. They were huge, and were totally underutilized. I guess P&G was scared of “the gay”. Typically a show that has popular characters gives them more to do. Not ATWT’s.
The cancellation was self inflicted.
The last 9 months of the show were pure agony.
I loved As the World Turns. It was the passing of an era when it was cancelled. I started watching the Christmas holidays of 1983 when I had more than expected time off. I would love to watch it in reruns. Are they available to watch on any network?
Of all the soaps on CBS I will never understand why As the World Turns was cancelled but the bold and the beautiful is still on the air. I loved As the World Turns and would love to see a comeback of the show. It should have never been cancelled in the first place.
I miss As The World Turns. I don’t know why they took it off the air.
I miss As the World Turns and All My Children. They were my absolute favourites of all daytime soaps. I often visit the soap opera websites where you can read episode recaps to fill the HUGE gap left by the absence of these classics from our TV screens today. They made a wonderful contribution to daytime dramatic viewing, and I hold them in very high regard.
I will always miss AS THE WORLD TURNS. I never knew why it was cancelled.
I would have paid to see it continue.
I can’t understand why this show was canceled. Most people enjoyed this show. I remember a lot of retirees looked forward watching this show
I was so disappointed when As The World Turns ended as in my opinion it should have never been canceled in the first place I was a fan of basketball turns since 1978 when I started watching with my mom after I’d come home from school or when I was out from being sick during holidays and summer breaks from school As I grew older I became more interested in characters and their stories Lily Dusty Holden Andy Dixon I go to appreciate other characters as well even the bad guys like James Steinbeck through these characters I learned about… Read more »
I can’t understand myself why these kinds of cancellations happen they show like As the World Turns has so much history it always had something for everyone of all kinds of genres all ages no discrimination these characters knew how to make you feel welcome like you were part of their family if it could come back again I certainly would like to see how my Springfield family neighbors and Friends are doing how their lives have changed As the World Turns was passed down from generation to generation in families of immigrants they learned how to speak English because… Read more »
This was another one of my favorite soaps . I hated to see it go,but would LOVE to see it and Guiding Light to return ine day in the future! HOPEFULLY
It was one of mine as well since 1978 I grew up watching soaps with my mom she watched all soaps on CBS sadly only Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful are the only two surviving soaps on that Network if both As the World Turns and Guiding Light where to somehow one day come back on another Network or streaming platform iPhone would certainly continue to tune in every day I’d even pay a fee to see daytime what it once was I certainly miss my families friends and neighbors of Oakdale in Springfield as well
I watched this show for many years, but not from the beginning. I wish there was a way to watch it from the beginning. Is tere?
I WATCHED AS THE WORLD TURNS .WITH MY MOM . SHE WAS WATCHING THIS SHOW WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL .NOW I HAVE KIDS OF MY OWN .ALSO GRANDKIDS.EVERYDAY I WATCH AS THE WORLD TURN .THAN IT CANCELLED PUT IT BACK ON PLEASE ROSE
Ok, I’ve seen The Talk, the show that replaced As The World Turns. It’s time to bring As The World Turns back. Nothing can replace it.
Agree why can’t people watch shows they enjoy. Who wants to hear gossip. Bring As the Turns back on.
I’ve seen the talk as well I’m particularly not a fan it is drama but just in a different form more out of gossip what is the World Turns brought was drama in every fashion in every genre in every community the people of Oakdale knew how to make you feel every kind of emotion they knew how to make you laugh cry enjoy life and in the process we learned something about our own lives television has not been the same there are no shows in daytime or prime time quite like As the World Turns
just another example of changes and endings-i’m sorry but i find it quite sad.why can’t SOME things stay the same?