Last Week, the cast and crew of As the World Turns recorded their final episodes. The CBS soap opera has been cancelled after more than 50 years on the air and the series finale will air on September 17th.
Actress Colleen Zenk Pinter, who plays Barbara Ryan on ATWT, has been with the soap since 1978 and has seen her character go through a lot of changes. Understandably, leaving the fictional community of Oakdale is an emotional experience. She shared the final moments with her Twitter followers.
June 21st: “Just read the last script..So beautiful… How can we get through it?.. A puddle of tears.”
June 23rd: “Here I go… One last day of love & angst in Oakdale, Illinois…my last day of Barbara…”
June 23rd: “Barbara’s set is only a memory…”
June 23rd: “Almost gone… Two more scenes as Babs… The walls are bare. The drawers are empty.”
June 23rd: “It’s a wrap……ATWT…..xoxoxoxoxox”
June 24th: “I am an unemployed actor for the first time in 32 years… what a wonderful run it was!!!!”
June 24th: “But… Rehearsals begin soon! …A new NY musical! …SUMMER STOCK NYC!! …Details later!”
What do you think? Any memories of Pinter’s performances on ATWT that stand out to you?
Image courtesy CBS.
To not have ATWT is like a day without sunshine….no matter how bad things were in my life, I could always “turn” to ATWT and forget about my own problems. My mother, my sister and I always watched it back in 1956 – now they are both gone – this show was connected to all 3 of us and it makes me feel like I have another death in my family. All of my life was associated with ATWT – getting married, raising children, losing loved ones, and all the while, watching this “make believe” family every day. Good to… Read more »
It is truely a real dissappointment. I too, have been watching it since I was a young girl & now that I am retired & was looking forward to watching my favorite soap, it is no longer. Shame on proctor & gamble for not making sure it was taken on by another sponser. There are people still in the world that are plain tired of reality shows & game shows. TV will not be the same without As The World Turns & as the job market goes, there are more good people out of a job. Shame on CBS also… Read more »
i cannot believe that as the world turns in really going to go off of the air after all of these years. it is my favorite soap opera, and i shall miss it something awful. i am sure that many people will be saddened by its’ passing. i know that life has to go on, but this is a real disappointment. i am 62 years of age, and i started watching it with my mom when i was a young girl. kudos for all of the good work that you have put into it over the years. god bless you… Read more »
Like many of your other past viewers, I began watching ATWT as a child, with my mom. She had never watched/listened to soaps because they were running stories and she didn’t know who anyone was. When ATWT started on TV she didn’t know it had been on radio for years and so thought the story was new. She began to watch it on its first day and I remember Nancy in some of the first scenes, talking to Penny and Ellen….what a fond memory, now. Who would have thought I would still know all these ‘people’ when I was 64!… Read more »
I came to the US in 1956; when my grandmother came in 1959 she would have be translate ATWT for her. I laugh now at the memory of her arguing with me if she could not accept that I translated the words correctly – she would say, “Oh no, Lisa would never say that?” But over the years when I was home from school, then as a teacher off for the summer, I would catch up with Oakdale stories. VCR made it possible for me to watch it all year round! The show was my “therapy” – a fun and… Read more »
I’ve watched ATWT since I was a toddler and we got our first TV. I remember so much about the early days. I know it’s just fiction, but, the show was important. You always wondered what Lisa was going to do next, and who she was going to marry next. Women would meet and discuss the show like it was family members. I’m a little disapointed that they haven’t brought back all surviving members of the original core families. Especialy for this last few weeks. We’d like to know what Annie and Jeff did with all those kids. And did… Read more »
I am heart broken with the cancellation of As the World Turns. The writers and actors deserve better. I hope they all find jobs soon. All My Children could use all the writers of As the World Turns for that soap, and for The Bold and Beautiful.
I watched from day one. I even took a job when my kids were all in school where I could have a lunch time so I did not have to miss the show. Lived in N.J. then and saw Eileen Fulton at the Papeer Mill Play House. Had ATWT to talk about to friends back east when we moved to beautiful Tulsa. I blame the death of the show on the writers. So many folks over 50 enjoyed logical story lines. Not many of late. Wished I could have buried Stenbach myself. Good luch and a wonder life to the… Read more »
I love As the World Turns so much. I adore Barbara, profesionally and personally. I would so love to meet this courageous beautiful woman. I will miss you terribly and I wish so much we did not have to say goodbye to such incredible actors. Barbara & Henry, Will & Gwen… my absolute favourite couples of all time. Much love and happiness to all of you beautiful people.
I started watching ATWT with my mother when it came on the air in 1956. I too am in mourning at the thought that I won’t be able to visit with “my friends” each Monday through Friday. My birthday is this coming Thursday. I will be 65. I can not think of a better birthday present than to find out that a new home has been found for my show. To all the cast members, thank you so very much for all the hours of enjoyment you have given to all of your devoted fans. We love you. We will… Read more »
I am in mourning! I have watched ATWT for 50+ years-it seems like a member of my family. I can’t believe it is nearing the end. I will miss the characters for a long time. I hope, as great as they are, they can find work somewhere!
AS THE WORLD TURNS has been a part of our family’s life from day one. My grandmother and mother watched the show; later, when I was in school and with the advent of VCRs, I watched the show with my mom. 30 years later, as a grown-up with a wife and six children, we continue to watch the show and are heartbroken that it is ending soon. So many stories stand out in my mind as classic soap opera; as a matter of fact, ATWT, to me, defines the very term “soap opera” in that the stories have pretty much… Read more »
Another World went off the Air on Friday June 25, 1999 . The following Monday June 28, 1999 I started watching As The World Turns due in part to them allowing some of the cast members from Another World being mix in to their cast it was about maybe a week to a week in the half before they wrote “Jake Mckinnon” played by the wonderful actor Tom Eplin and “Vicky Hudson Mckinnon” played by the beautiful and talented Jensen Bucchanon O’brien, Cass Winthrop and his wife Lila Winthrop who’s real names I can not remember at this time being… Read more »
i wish it was not being canned although the storylines in the past few years have sucked
but barbara was a mean old hag but she also had a heart of gold
i’m gonna miss all the atwt cast especially will and gwen
it’s nice to know they are gonna come back with hallie
she’s gotta be so big now awwww
I love As the world turns and breaks my heart I won’t see them again.
My world ended the day ATWT was cancelled! The entire cast was a family to me! I will miss them all and wish them all the very best of health, happiness and blessings!!