As many soap opera fans are well aware, As the World Turns has been cancelled after 54 years on CBS. The final scenes of the daytime drama were shot in June and are set to air next Friday, September 17th.
The folks at EW obtained an exclusive shot of the last scene to be taped. Appropriately, it features longtime stars Don Hastings and Kathryn Hays.
He’s played Dr. Robert Hughes on ATWT since October 1960, holding the record for the longest continuous role on US television. Hays has played Kim Sullivan Hughes since 1972 and worked on the now-cancelled Guiding Light series before that.
Hays described the end of filming and said, “The last day was poignant, and what was so incredible about it was how we shot pretty much in order that day. As each group finished with a scene, that would be the end of their involvement. But it wasn’t like tomorrow was another show, so the studio got really full.”
She continued, “By the time they got to our scenes with Don and myself, there was hardly any room for cameras or the boom. In a way, it felt like being in a theater. We don’t normally have an audience. The stage manager asked if it was going to be a problem for us, but we both said no. It was like everybody’s arm was around us. It was absolutely incredible, there was not a sound. It was like everyone was holding their breath. In a way, we were all doing it together.”
“When we finished, Don and I both spoke a little bit to everybody, and the whole As the World Turns family moved to the other end of big studio where they had the world’s longest table set up, covered with champagne glasses. On the way home, I said to my daughter that if you are gonna go out, this is the way to do it.”
What do you think? Will you be tuning in to see this venerable program sign off?
I used to watch CBS for up to 2 hrs/day during the week. One to watch GL, until a yr ago when it was cancelled, then down to just 1 hr. to watch (my favorite) ATWT, which is now cancelled… so I will be watching CBS for a grand total of ZERO hrs!!! how can you replace long-time beloved shows, for BS game and talk shows! ?????
I have watched ATWT since the first day. I would walk home from grammer school each day for lunch, and my mom would watch so I did too. I’ve never missed an episode and can’t even think about this Friday without wanting to cry. This show has been my daily distraction from real life problems, my la-la time in the evening after work, and a joy to watch. The acting is some of the best, and I’ll miss ATWT terribly. Best wishes and success to all the cast and crew members as they embark on new lives.
I sit with tears having just learned that I have 3 more days to watch my family “AS THE WORLD TURNS”. I will miss you Carley, Barbara, Jack, Craig & yes even you Oliver Reed. I have loved all of you for the duration of the show, I thought I would see my life thru with you. What will I do in the evening now without our taped show especially since I don’t enjoy tv ——I just had all you wonderful people to look fwd. too each day. Again, I love all you. karen
This is sickening I can’t believe friday the 17th is the last day. I really wish they would not do this there are so many characters on this show cancel the bold and beautiful I am sick to death about for the last 21 years how Ridge and Brooke will marry divorce marry divorce really now CBS will regret this.
I have watched this show since i was sixteen and my mom watched it from the beginning. My mom died in 1988 and i carried on the family tradition and i am going to be 57 tomorrow, and i am the same age she was when she died. I am still watching and remembering how i used to run upstairs and sit with my mom and watch our favorite show together. As the World Turns. It will be sadly missed.
I REALLY LOVED AS WORLD TURNS I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BOLD AND BEATIFUL GO OFF THE AIR,CAUSE EVERY ONE LOVED AS WORLD TURNS AND I JUST WISH THEY WOULDNT HAVE DID THIS TO US VANS,I WILL MISS THIS SOAP.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING ATWT SINCE 1980 ‘s I WAS VISTING A FRIEND AT HER HOME AND SHE WAS WATCHING THE SHOW .ATWT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS FOR YEARS.I AM GOING REALLY MISS YOU AND BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE AT ATWT . I LIKE GUIDING LIGHT . I EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO SEEN PHILLIP IN PERSON .I WAS SAD TO SEE THE SHOW END AND IT WILL BE SAD TO SEE ATWT END . And what’s worse is when CBS blacks out the daytime series for sporting events that no one watches during the day. I… Read more »
OMG, this is the only soap I watch. I have been watching it since I was 2. My mom would always have it on while she folded laundry. I am now 37 and continue to watch it. It is my only down time look forward to ( and fold laundry). My kids know when it is on wait for a commercial. I will truly miss it. Hate to see it go. 🙁
This has been one of my favorite shows for years. Grew up watching this with my grandmother and it’s like I’m losing her all over again. Thanks for the many, many years of true life episodes and yet an escape from the real world for an hour. Great cast and writers who will be sorely missed. If the Young and Restless along with the Bold and the Beautiful are taken off, CBS will be cutting it’s own throat. Who wants to watch those idiotic talk shows that hold no interest for the non-working and retired. I know I don’t –… Read more »
I have watched As The World Turns and The Guiding Light since we got TV in St. Petersburg , FL in 1954. They are my favorite soaps. I think some of them are very silly, but not these . They have some sense to them. The actors are superb. If you could find a home for each of these it would make many folks very happy. And as to buying your products. Just because we are up in years does not mean we don’t clean our houses or take care of grandchildren who need you products. While on the subject… Read more »
Wow, it is going to be hard to not have ATWT to watch. I am 58 and as many others have said, I have watched the show since I was a liitle girl . Many years ago, I remember on an episode when Lisa got married (do not remember which time could have been hers and Bob’s) and my mom had a party for her friends and my grandma and they all got dressed up like they were going to the wedding and had great food and cake while watching it. I have loved taping the show and watching it… Read more »
my 2 favorite soaps cancelled; i watched them with mom for the last 30 years; well im none with soaps now. no otherts i like
Why in the world they want to take away the women of this worlds “Great Escape from Reality” is beyond me. First Guiding Light and now As the World Turns. I am going to be so lost. I have watched these shows since I was little as well with my mom and look forward to the escape each evening. If Young and the Restless goes too then CBS will lose my viewing for sure. I guess I will be forced to pick up a few of those books I have been wanting to read now. Thanks for all the great… Read more »
I have watched As the World Turns since I was little with my Mom. I have since had my own children who have watched the show with me. I even record the show so I can watch it when I come home from work. My husband even got into the evil character of Craig Montgomery. With primetime shows being so boring, I looked forward to catching up with the people of Oakdale every day. It really was like a friendly escape and part of life. Thank you to all of the wonderful cast for years of entertainment. You will be… Read more »
Agree with this comment.
I too will sorely miss As The World Turns. MY Grandma watched it, my Mom watched it and I have watched it for many years too. Why did they have to axe it? So sad. WE are talk showed to death and there will not be anything sufficient to replace this soap opera! Shame on CBS. I truly hope that they could have found a home for As the World Turns. I have missed Guiding Light as well. The only soap opera worth watching on CBS now is the Young and the Restless. May have to check out the soaps… Read more »
i will be 67 in 2 wks. i have been watching atwt’s since i was a teenager . reading some of the comments about luke and his story line were alittle upsetting. it is a changing world but it’s about loving one another. i will truely miss my favorite soap.
It was the fall of 1956, I am 17 and a senior in high school. Home for lunch and Nancy Hughes comes on the airwaves, she has a daughter my age Penny who has a best friend Ellen Lowell. Thus began a constant, 54 year love affair. I’ve been there for it all. I am now 71 and will mourn their leaving like the loss of family. This cancellation will leave a very big hole in my life. I was sad to see the Guiding Light go, I even listened to it on the radio as a young child, but… Read more »