Last December, CBS announced that yet another venerable soap opera had been cancelled. After 54 years on the air, As the World Turns was winding down. As a treat for fans, the producers have been inviting some familiar faces from years gone by to return, like Julianne Moore, Larry Bryggman, Jennifer Landon, Jesse Soffer, Cady McClain, and Mary Beth Evans.
There was talk about the daytime drama possibly continuing elsewhere but it seems that won’t be happening. Yesterday, the cast and crew of As the World Turns taped their 13,858th and last episode in Brooklyn.
In a statement to EW, Brian T. Cahill, senior VP and managing director of TeleNext Media Inc., said, “Last December, when CBS informed us that they were canceling As the World Turns, we immediately launched a far-reaching search to find a new outlet for the show.”
He continued, “We have aggressively pursued network and cable outlets as well as syndication options, and have explored many innovative formats and relationships that we hoped would ultimately enable the future success of As the World Turns. Regrettably, we have not found an outlet or platform that will carry the show forward. This is an extremely disappointing outcome to what was a tireless and exhaustive pursuit.”
Cahill concluded, “While we are sad to see As the World Turns come to an end, we remain proud of the achievements the show has made over the last 54 years and are extremely grateful to the loyal fans who invited us into their homes every day. There is still much in store for the show’s well-loved characters throughout the summer, and although the show will go off the air in September, the remaining stories will honor the remarkable history of As the World Turns.”
What do you think? Are your surprised that the soap won’t be finding a new home? Would you follow the characters if they returned in another form — like books, audio dramas, or web shorts?
Image courtesy CBS.
I grew up watching As The World Turns and also the Guiding Light with my mother. You canceled one and now your canceling the other. I’m very disappointed in CBS. After watching the day time emmeys, As the World Turns is still very successful. I always recorded them if I didn’t have time to watch them. Now I only have The Young & The Restless & The Bold & The Beautiful after that my TV will go off or I will watch another channel.
I am so sad this show is ending. I have watched it for all of my 50 years. My mother raised me on it. It is the only soap I watch. CBS you have made a big mistake. I won’t be watching your channel during the daytime at all now. Too bad you did not choose that tired old Y&R or B&B instead. They will never have the class that ATWT does. I hope someone will still come to rescue Oakdale. I hope the actors can find new work. I feel badly for them.
What is wrong with CBS? Are they gonna get rid of all soaps.
I’m very sad that after so long and following the story and lives that CBS would cancel As the World Turns, I was upset when it also canceled The Guiding Light. Is CBS getting out of the Soap business? Is Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful next? Are you guys crazy? Such a shame to cancel something people enjoy and have followed for years.
CBS should keep ATWT. It is such a great show and game shows are no comparison to the drama of a soap. I hope the show can continue. Soaps are a way to escape from the reality shows and enjoy a real storyline. They make you laugh, cry and want to watch more and you don’t get that from much these days. I have college students and teenagers in my neighborhood watching and women who watch at night so I don’t know what CBS is thinking. Even if you’re working full time I record the shows or watch on line… Read more »
Please don’t put anymore game shows on!
I am so saddened to hear this, I have pretty much the same history as DJ Small. Years and years with my Grandmother not going anywhere until ATWT was over, my mother watching also and me….I have taped that and watched at night for so long. I am retired now so of my 62 years, 54 of it was with ATWTs. The families on this show have been a part of me and I will miss each one of them.
Stupid move for CBS.
I am sick and sad to see my only Soap disappear!!! Say it isn’t so! I love ‘As the World Turns’ and I will never watch any other Soap the rest of my life. I have watched ‘As the World Turns’ since I graduated from High School in New Hampshire in 1969, when I was working shift work there. I can’t believe someone would let this goldmine of a Soap slip away. All the good shows are going away on TV, no quality shows anymore, so I don’t watch TV as much as I used to. I was glad to… Read more »
Keep the show on we have too many game shows already
I can go on GSN if I want to watch game shows.
I don’t know why they would take off such a great soap opera, better than a lot of soaps. I hope they do actually find a home, it’s never too late to find a new home for the soap. Even if it means next year.
There are many things they could do to save the show, cut the running time or have 1 hour episode a week, or have webisodes like the reader above me said. I can only hope that they finally do come to some arrangement though.
Webisodes! Wouldn’t that be nice!
so sad to see such a fine tradition come to an end wished they would have found a new home will greatly miss as the world turns alone with guiding light
Point proven again!
I’ve watched this show for over 50 years since I was 2 with my Mother and Grandmother. I’m not a big TV watcher but I was raised on ATWT and it’s like chicken soup when your sick. Although my Grandmother and Mother have passed I’ve always felt so warm and close to them when I sit down each evening to watch my “story”. I’ve modeled many of Kim’s actions raising my children, loved Holden with all my heart when he was a stable boy and cheer when Carly is in sync with her G-Man. Thank you for the years of… Read more »