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 am very sorry that As The World Turns could not find a new home!The soaps that are still on are inferior, both in the writing and the acting.The Bold And The Beautiful has the worst writing and the worst acting.It won some kind of award, but some people will watch anything.I won’t be watching any daytime shows on C.B.S. from now on.Evidently C.B.S. does not care what the fans want.I am so sick of game shows!I guess I will be watching the other channels.I am retired, and I enjoyed the daytime soap as an escape for a while.
I’ve been watching ATWT since summer of 1956 – it was only 15 minutes long and black and white! I’m very sad to be saying goodbye after all these years. CBS – you are making another BIG error, we will have nothing to watch on CBS now that ATWT has been axed. . .
I refuse to accept that no other network will save ATWT. CBS & lots of other channels (inc. cable) can afford ATWT. Take off the horrible Bold & Beautiful, all of your terrible game & reality shows & appreciate the EXCELLENT talent of EVERY actor/actress on As The World Turns. Or what about on Oprah’s new network? Have you contacted her? I asked to pick it up a few months ago on her regular channels (ABC, Lifetime & now Own), but of course no answer or positive statement at all. My sister, grandmother, her Nanny & I have watched it… Read more »
I have been watching As the world turns since I was young. I used to watch with my mom; God rest her soul. She passed in 2004. I miss her and miss watching show with her. She loved As the world turns!
I still can’t believe there is no new home for ATWT, I am truly devastated, I feel as though I am losing my extended family, not only that but my family share close family names to the Snyder’s and Luke Snyder in particular. My brothers name is Luca (Luke) Grimaldi, our fathers name is Damiano (Damian), my brother is gay and his boyfriend’s name is Dominic Mayer (yes like Noah Mayer), I have a daughter who watches the show as well, her name is Aamira (Ameera). We all sit and watch it, mainly cause it’s so funny to see the… Read more »
They told the same story when Guiding Light was cancelled…
They must really think the viewers are stupid to believe they were actually trying to find a new home for either GL or ATWT…
Well, since the show hit the airwaves in April of 1956(Dan McCullough was the first announcer and Dan Region joined as the second announcer in 1982 and stayed until July 1998)As The World Turns will be so missed and all the memories that went with it! Good times! Happy times! Sad times! I’ve been watching it ever since I was little! I’ll miss Dan McCullough saying “And now, for the next thirty minutes(or the next full hour) AS THE WORLD TURNS” also “Join us again tomorrow for another half-hour of drama on AS THE WORLD TURNS” or “Join us again… Read more »
I cannot believe that CBS is cancelling As The World Turns. I have been watching this show since 1962 – why does everything good have to go away. Were you not making enough money from the sponsors? So disgusting – and what pray tell are you going to fill that spot with – another game show, reality show, or what? Ridiculous!!! So sad and it’s always about the money!
I haven’t been able to watch the show since the June 23rd day the last taping, I keep on sitting down to watch, and can’t, I have to go away, I feel as though I am losing part of my extended family, and I can’t do anything to stop it. CBS definitely has made the wrong choice when it comes to taking this show off. It came away this year from the Emmy’s with 3 awards, more than most other soaps, only one other did that and that was B&B (I think), the tribute was appalling, and to top it… Read more »
Its breaking my heart that I won’t see Jack or Carly. I love them so much! They are my favorite.
I have watched As The World Turns for 50 years–I would tape it and love the stories. BUT when ever I would write (after trying to find where to write) no one acknowledged that I wrote–so I stopped writing and just love the show–every Actor was and is EXTREMLY the BEST quality. I feel you should have put yourselfs out their-went on Regis or any of the talk shows-I watch most of them -I never saw anything about the show. On NBC their is a show named “Chuck” and I loved it-they took it off for a year and everyone… Read more »
Considering CBS got most awards; you would think they’d realize people love them and want to keep watching. Wake up CBS; we want our shows!
It is so hard to believe that there is no new home for “As The World Turns.” I know so many people and friends who are fans of this show, and would absolutely watch no matter where it was. Please continue to try. It sounds silly to have a soap opera become such an important part of your life – but it is an amazing escape from reality – specifically this Soap Opera, as the acting is superb and really above all else, and the writing (for the most part) is also top notch… the combination of the actors, the… Read more »
Please tell me CBS doesn’t intend to put on another game show????????? I’ll quit watching CBS altogether if they do. They took off two good soaps, and put on that lousy Let’s make a deal…….give me a break. We are being game showed and reality showed to death. Please STOP.
Cancelling As the World Turns is a horrific mistake. I agree with all of the above comments. I am truly disappointed CBS couldn’t arrive at some sort of compromise. The cost for a soap is undeniably high, but certainly savy television execs could have implemented something. What about a 30 minute format? Hey, it’s working for the Bold and the Beautiful. Didn’t they take the Emmy for the best drama? I certainly think ATWT has actors that are committed to the show. After watching the heartfelt and very emotional wins of Michael Park, Maura West and Julie Pinson, I’m saddened… Read more »