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News, Cast Updates and Scoop(News section last updated February 9, 2012)Soap Life: The Docu-filmThere has been a lot of buzz about the demise of soap operas, but a new documentary just might bring the sad reality into the same world as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big time Hollywood names! Called Soap Life, the docu-film is about the changes taking place in the world of daytime television, and with over 70 interviews featuring fans, stars, producers, directors, writers, bloggers and fan club leaders, it could show the world what's really happening in daytime."The wife of our executive producer, John Grossman, who owns the production company NYPS, is a big fan of GENERAL HOSPITAL, and her whole thing was, 'You have the ability, so let's do something to save the soaps,'" explains producer Matthew D'Amato of how it all began. "We started doing research, and we sat down with a few actors, producers and directors, and said, 'Is this is a good idea? Could this work? Should we pursue it?' And we looked it up online and didn't see anything like this, so we thought it would be important to get started." And the main goal of the film, D'Amato explains, is to generate enough buzz about the possible end of soaps to possibly prevent it from happening. "Hopefully this will get enough attention to help the genre, because we don't want to see it fade away," he says, adding that it's tentatively scheduled for a June 2012 release date at film festivals and possibly on networks such as Showtime. "We do want to see it at festivals, and we do want to see it on networks [so] people who aren't soap fans can watch the film and kind of relate to it, hear the stories and maybe want to pick them up or maybe do something about the genre. We have contacts we can send it to in order to get it out there, so hopefully it will get bigger and bigger!" For more information on the project, visit www.facebook.com/soaplifedoc. To see a video about the project, visit www.youtube.com/user/SoapLifeDoc. Are GH's Kevin & Lucy Returning Next?As more and more fan favorites return to GENERAL HOSPITAL, other names being bandied about are Jack Wagner (Frisco), Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) and Lynn Herring (Lucy). As buzz continues to generate that Lucy and her Doc will make a return visit to Port Charles, Lindstrom's real-life girlfriend, Cady McClain (Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN), dropped a bit of hope for fans wanting to see this rumor become a reality when she tweeted "A little bird just told me GH is bringing back some fan favorites. Who will return, I wonder?"A spokesperson for ABC reminded that the network "doesn't comment on rumor or actor posts on social media." Lindstrom Finds Puppy Love!Having spent the bulk of his career as a soap star, Jon Lindstrom (ex-Craig, ATWT/Kevin & Ryan, GH & PC) has had his share of smokin' hot female love interests. However, in his new romantic comedy, What Happens Next -- releasing on Netflix and DVD on Tuesday, February 7 -- Lindstrom is getting an adorable leading man! "I'm very, very proud of this movie," he offers of the picture that explores a gay relationship. "I think it's a little comic gem and given the political atmosphere out there, I think it was brave to make it."In this film festival favorite, Lindstrom plays Paul Greco, a recently retired, straight billionaire and socialite who finds himself at loose ends until his worried sister (HOT IN CLEVELAND's Wendie Malick) gives him a puppy. "While walking the dog in the park, he meets a young man [Andy, a gay advertising wiz], and they start to develop a friendship," Lindstrom previews. "Paul finds out things about himself that he'd never really considered." As the new friends explore the distinction between contentment and happiness, they also face complications presented by their ill-informed family members, including Andy's sister, Roz, -- played by ALL MY CHILDREN's Natalia Cigliuti (Anita) -- and their well-meaning advisors. "Megan Hilti (SMASH) has a hilarious scene as Wendie's manicurist," Lindstrom previews. Want to get a jump-start on the laughs? Visit http://wolfereleasing.com/info/title/what-happens-next/ to view the trailer. For more on Lindstrom's post-soap career, check out his feature interview in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth. A.J. Lamas: I Jacked Booze from Ex's Pad ... but I’m NO StalkerLorenzo Lamas’ reality show son tells TMZ he is NOT a dangerous stalker who tried to trap his ex-GF in her bathroom … but does admit being an alcohol thief.TMZ spoke with A.J. Lamas (ex-Rafael, As The World Turns) … who tells us he DID venture over to his ex-GF’s Los Angeles home on January 11 at 2 AM to "discuss" their recent breakup … and entered the home through a window, as he did habitually when they were together. Basically, he admitted to breaking and entering … but in a good way. Once he got inside the home, A.J. says he saw another man in his ex’s bed … and tells us, “That was all I needed to see.” A.J, says he attempted to leave the home without "incident." But seeing his ex with another dude made him REALLY thirsty, so he went to the fridge and grabbed a beverage … which turned out to be a Four Loko alcoholic energy drink. Of course, A.J.’s ex tells a different story … claiming Lamas had NO BUSINESS being in her home … and insists he tried to trap her in a bathroom so he could spout off about their failed relationship. The ex is seeking a restraining order against A.J. – but the reality star insists he doesn’t ever want to contact her again anyway. We love happy endings. Lorenzo Lamas' Son Accused of Terrorizing Ex-GirlfriendA.J. Lamas (ex-Rafael, As The World Turns) -- a reality show staple and son of Lorenzo Lamas -- has been accused by his ex-girlfriend of breaking into her home and holding her at bay in the bathroom.Jessie Schulman filed legal docs asking for a restraining order, claiming she broke up with A.J. and moved on to a new relationship. Jessie says on January 11 at 2 AM, she was at home with her boyfriend when A.J. suddenly appeared outside her window. She says she yelled at him to leave, but instead he broke through the window screen and entered the house. According to the legal docs, A.J. started yelling at Jessie and tried to lock the two of them in the bathroom so he could have a captive audience to speak his mind. Jessie says she talked him into leaving the house, but before he made his exit he made a pit stop at the fridge and grabbed a bottle of liquor. A.J. may know his whiskey, but he doesn't know Jack about relationships.
Conn Laughs It Up On 30 ROCKIt was hard for Terri Conn to do guest-starring roles while appearing as Aubrey on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, but now there's nothing to stop her from spreading her wings, and you can see her do just that on tonight's (Jan 26) episode of 30 ROCK on NBC airing at 9:00 PM EST!"I'm really excited," she declares. "It's like, my favorite show. There's a lot of good shows [that shoot] in New York." Which is why Conn has decided to maintain her home base on the East Coast instead of moving to Hollywood. "I'm sticking it out in New York," she says. "It's better to be in the room for auditions, but my agents are really fantastic, so I get to go on tape. And I'm available to fly out at a minute's notice. So I'll hopefully get the best of both worlds!" ATWT Star To Marry George Clooney!(Video) AS THE WORLD TURNS' Colleen Zenk (Barbara) has joined the cast of Marrying George Clooney: Confessions From A Midlife Crisis, a new Off-Broadway play adapted from the book of the same name by Amy Ferris."I am thrilled!" she declares. "For the next 12 weeks, I'm going to be fantasizing about 'Marrying George Clooney'... on stage, of course! Maybe he'll even show up!" The production will run from Wednesday, February 29, through Saturday, March 24, at the CAP21 Theater in New York City. Tickets are only $18, and can be purchased by following this link over to the CAP21 Web site! Gossip Girl Mom to Romance the 'Stache Tom Selleck on Blue BloodsOn Gossip Girl, it's all about the Chuck-Blair-Louis love triangle, but the soon-to-be mother of the bride is about to get entangled in a steamy romance of her own on Blue Bloods, TVLine reports.Margaret Colin (ex-Margo, As The World Turns), who plays Blair Waldorf's mom, will appear in a March episode of the CBS crime drama as a love interest for Frank (Tom Selleck). Colin will play Melanie, a well-known investigative reporter for an international cable news network who has been carrying on a top-secret, long distance relationship with Frank for some time. However, their private and professional lives intersect in a dangerous way when Frank must track the bad guy who is after Melanie. This isn't the first time Frank has been involved with someone from the media. He previously dated New York TV reporter Kelly Davidson (Andrea Roth). The March episode will reunite Colin and Selleck, who previously co-starred in Three Men and a Baby and an episode of Magnum P.I. Blue Bloods airs Fridays at 10/9c on CBS. Gossip Girl's 100th episode premieres Monday at 8/7c on the CW. Former soap star Frank Runyeon returning to Hopewell Valley for Pennington Presbyterian show(www.buckslocalnews.com) When he used to live in Hopewell, actor Frank Runyeon was starring with Meg Ryan in “As the World Turns.” Now, he’s coming back to the area with his spiritual one-man show.There was a time when Frank Runyeon shared the screen with Meg Ryan, playing Steve to Ryan’s Betsy during a very popular run of the soap opera “As the World Turns.” That was the 1980s, and the gig was accompanied by many others, including stints on “Santa Barbara,” “General Hospital,” “L.A. Law,” “Melrose Place,” and “All My Children.” These days, Runyeon devotes his time to acting and religion, fusing the two in a one-man show that he’ll be bringing to the Pennington Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Jan. 29. The performance, called “Afraid,” tells the story of the Gospel of Mark, from beginning to end, in common tongue for everyday viewers. It will begin at 10:15 a.m. and is expected to comprise the majority of the Sunday morning service. “You can just tell by talking to Frank how much he enjoys what he does,” says Pennington Presbyterian Worship and Music Committee member Debbie Ryan. “He’s a very lively and energetic person, and you can tell he wants to share that with others.” Runyeon lived on Blackwell Avenue in Hopewell Borough from 1984 to 1987, the same time he was catching early-morning trains to shoot scenes with movie stars. A Princeton University graduate, he remembers shopping for groceries at the Pennington Quality Market, and making friends with other folks living just next door to his alma mater. It was also around that time that Runyeon began to focus more strongly on faith and god. He studied religion at Princeton, but it wasn’t until he lost his college roommate to suicide, saw his wife tragically miscarry, and left his soap-opera job that he truly dove into a new kind of show business: that of preaching and theology. “I became interested in stories that weren’t afraid to ask the big questions,” he says. “Stories of faith, not stories of fluff.” Since altering his path, Runyeon has moved to California, and gained national acclaim as a translator and performer of biblical texts. According to Ryan, he has performed his twist on the Gospel of Mark for hundreds of thousands of people in nearly every state in the country he’s also been known to perform “Surmon the Mount,” “The 3 ½ Stories of Christmas,” “The Gospel of John: Signs,” and “Salt & Light: A Comedy for Kids”). Ryan says Runyeon’s Jan. 29 gig came about thanks to Pennington Presbyterian’s music director, Bill Alford, the head of the arts department at The Pennington School, who years ago took his students to see a Runyeon performance. Clearly finding the show unforgettable, Alford now finds himself helping to expose more people to Runyeon’s talents. “It feels like coming home,” Runyeon says of his impending visit. “I always get those deep pangs of nostalgia coming to the area because it really was my favorite place to live [Runyeon has visited periodically amid Princeton University reunions]. And it’s really sort of bringing it all home because I was thinking about doing [this profession] when I was living in Hopewell. And, hopefully, at this point, I’ve learned to do it well.” *Learn more about Frank Runyeon at www.frankrunyeon.com. For more details about this specific event, call the Pennington Presbyterian Church at 609-737-1221, or check out the web-site at pennpres.org/frank-runyeon/. SightingsJulianne Moore (ex-Frannie, ATWT), with her kids, looking stunning in a black dress leaving the Sunset Tower hotel in HollywoodEmmy Award-Winning Actress Hillary B. Smith Joins B&BEmmy Award-winning actress, Hillary B. Smith, has been cast in the role of psychiatrist, “Dr. Stacy”, on The Bold and the Beautiful, Executive Producer and Head Writer Bradley P. Bell announced today. “Hillary is a formidable actress with a powerful screen presence,” said Bell. “I look forward to collaborating on this new and dynamic character with her on The Bold and the Beautiful.”Smith played “Nora Hanen Buchanan” on One Life to Live from 1992 to 2012. In addition to Smith’s critically acclaimed role on One Life to Live, her television credits include Something Wilder, As the World Turns, and The Doctors, as well as guest starring roles on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Too Close for Comfort. Among her many film credits, included are Made in Manhattan with Jennifer Lopez, and Love Potion No. Nine with Sandra Bullock. She currently stars on the popular web series: Venice: The Series as “Guya” and Fumbling for the Pieces as “Ellie.” In addition to television, film and Internet, Smith also has an extensive history in theater having recently starred in Any Given Monday. Her other theater credits include the Broadway hits A Real American Hero, The Heidi Chronicles, and the Off-Broadways smashes Song Night in the City, A World of Black & White and Lips Together, Teeth Apart. Smith has been nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy Award® in the category of “Outstanding Lead Actress”, taking home the trophy in 1994. Julianne Moore's "Game Change" as Sarah PalinAmericans may be gearing up for the 2012 presidential elections, but HBO is revisiting the drama of the 2008 race to the White House in a TV film about Sarah Palin and John McCain."Game Change," starring Julianne Moore (ex-Frannie, As The World Turns) as Palin and Ed Harris as McCain, is based on the 2010 book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin that documented the behind-the-scenes action of the presidential campaign four years ago. But the new film, which will premier on March 10, focuses on the rise of Palin as McCain's 2008 Republican Party running mate. "We felt that story of Sarah Palin is truly one of the great American political stories of our time," writer Danny Strong told television reporters on Friday. Moore said that she spent hours working with a vocal coach to master Palin's "idiosyncratic way of speaking" as well as reading Palin's book and watching her TV reality show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." "It's a daunting task to play somebody who's not only a living figure but also hugely well known. So for me, the most important thing was accuracy. We're all very familiar with her and those iconic moments four years ago," said Moore, who starred in movie drama "The Hours" and "The Kids Are Alright". Strong said he was given interviews with everyone he wrote into the film. Except for Palin. Instead, he used the former Alaska governor's own book "Going Rogue" as one of his main sources. "Her (Palin's) situation was an extraordinary one. She was someone who was involved in state politics and suddenly thrust into international politics, and clearly wasn't prepared," said Moore. "She was so incredibly charismatic and so unbelievably able to communicate, a true populist," she said. "Saturday Night Live" actress Tina Fey, whose Palin impersonations became one of the highlights of the 2008 presidential campaign, will also appear in "Game Change", which incorporates news footage into the film . "I really looked forward to the moment where Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin, would be watching Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. I thought that would be interesting to the story," said director Jay Roach. Harris, who researched McCain in-depth before portraying him, said his respect for the Arizona Senator deepened. "He's a man of commended sense of honor and duty, and when he decided to go into politics, by his own admission, his ambition and his ego were constantly in conflict with his sense of honor and duty and patriotism," the "Beautiful Mind" actor said. Palin, 47, a favorite of the Tea Party movement, ended months of speculation last October by announcing she would not seek a presidential run in 2012. How Did Julianne Moore Study Up on Sarah Palin? By Watching Her Reality Series!To prepare for her role as Sarah Palin in HBO's upcoming film, Game Change, Julianne Moore (ex-Frannie, As The World Turns) hired a vocal coach, read Going Rogue and watched her TV docu-series, Sarah Palin's Alaska."That's frankly adorable," Moore told reporters Friday at HBO's winter TV previews. "She's a very caring and a very involved parent. ... I think that was something that was very compelling and very interesting." The film, based on the book of the same name, follows Sen. John McCain's campaign from the start of his search for a "game-changing" vice presidential candidate to his and Palin's ultimate defeat in the 2008 election. "The entire country had a collective gasp when she walked on stage. People were like, 'Oh my gosh, who is she? Where did she come from?'" Moore remembered. "It was quite historic actually." Moore found Palin relatable because they're both mothers, but also because of the pressure Palin felt during the campaign. "I chased down an ice-skating coach once because they messed up the music to my daughter's ice skating program," she said with a laugh. "Certainly when you are called upon to perform that way with that much pressure, it's very relatable." Moore said she hired a vocal coach immediately after she was cast to capture Palin's "idiosyncratic" way of speaking, knowing that Palin's speech and movements were still fresh in people's minds. "We were all very familiar with her and with those sort of iconic moments. It was just four years ago," she said. "I'm portraying a real human being and it's my responsibility as an actor to portray them as accurate as possible ... her moments of brilliance and populism and charisma, and her lack of experience." The one piece of research Moore wasn't able to do was meet with the woman herself. Palin declined to be interviewed by screenwriter Danny Strong for the project (25 people from the campaign were interviewed) and Palin also shot down a personal request from director Jay Roach. "I wrote a long letter explaining that we would just do better at getting this story right if she would just talk to us," Roach said. "I got a very quick e-mail back from her attorney saying, 'I checked; she declines.'" Although Palin is still very much involved in the political sphere — despite her decision not to run for president in 2012 — those involved don't think the film will affect how people view her politically. "We felt that the story of Sarah Palin is truly one of the great American political stories of our time. It's so dramatic. It's so exciting. You have such a great character at the center of it," Strong said. "There's not an agenda here." Game Change premieres on Saturday, March 10 at 9/8c on HBO. ONE LIFE Fave To B&B!Soap Opera Digest has confirmed that fan favorite Hillary B. Smith (ex-Nora, OLTL/ex-Margo, ATWT) will join the No. 2 show in the brand new role of a sex therapist. The news comes mere hours after ONE LIFE TO LIVE aired its last episode on ABC. The actress had hinted earlier today that she had a new job in the works: “There will b other projects. I have one at the end of the month. It will be announced shortly..... Not ABC.”Stars From The PastStars' Soap Opera Beginnings: See the pictures here.Stars From The PastFarewell One Life to Live: 13 Stars And Their Soap Opera Stints: See the pictures here.It's Official! OLTL Stars To GH!GENERAL HOSPITAL's new Executive Producer Frank Valentini has announced he's bringing some familiar, Emmy-winning faces from Llanview to Port Charles! OLTL alums Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Roger Howarth (Todd), Kristen Alderson (Starr) and Michael Easton (John) are set to reprise their beloved roles on GH and will report to the set later this month. "We have a very exciting story planned for the citizens of Port Charles, with Sonny Corinthos at the center of it! I am confident viewers and fans alike will be excited for the arrival of John, Starr, Blair and Todd," said Valentini. "Incorporating characters from ONE LIFE TO LIVE continues the legacy of the show as we weave them into GENERAL HOSPITAL."Soap Alums Welcome Baby GirlEric Winter (ex-Rex, DAYS) and wife, Roselyn Sanchez (ex-Pilar, ATWT) welcomed a daughter, Sebella Rose, in the early hours of January 4. The infant weighed in at 6 lbs., 14 oz. and is 20 inches long. “Welcome to the world beautiful Sebella Rose Winter! Mami and Daddy adore you!” they tweeted. Congratulations!First Look at HBO's Game Change: How Do You Rate Julianne Moore's Portrayal of Sarah Palin?She's no Tina Fey, but then, you wouldn't expect her to be, as Julianne Moore (ex-Frannie, As The World Turns) plays Sarah Palin in HBO's upcoming Game Change.In the film, premiering in March on the pay cable channel, Moore steps into the shoes (and signature glasses and hairdo) of the former Alaska governor when she is named the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. Moore stars alongside Ed Harris (as Sen. John McCain) and Woody Harrelson (as McCain's senior campaign strategist and adviser, Steve Schmidt) in the adaptation of the book of the same name. Watch the trailer for Game Change: video. ATWT Star Dead At 90Veteran film and television actor Dan Frazer -- known to AS THE WORLD TURNS fans as Nancy's second husband Dan "Mac" McClosky -- died of cardiac arrest on December 16 at his Manhattan home. Frazer was 90.Prior to being cast on ATWT as Oakdale's police chief, Frazer played another police officer, Captain Frank McNeil on the hit 1970s series KOJAK. He also appeared in the films Cleopatra Jones, Take The Money And Run, Gideon's Trumpet and Deconstructing Harry, as well as in numerous TV shows, including BARNEY MILLER, THE WALTONS, LAW & ORDER and THIRD WATCH. Frazer's most recent project was in the 2010 drama The Pack, featuring his ATWT co-star Scott Bryce (Craig). Frazer joined the cast of ATWT in 1986 and played the beloved Mac for a decade until the character died from a heart attack in 1996, including a poignant storyline where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Roselyn Sánchez Celebrates Her Baby Shower(Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3) Bonita baby!Roselyn Sánchez (ex-Pilar, As The World Turns) celebrates her upcoming arrival — her daughter is due in early January — at a shower thrown by Johnson’s Naturals on Nov. 5 in California. Pretty in a long purple dress, the actress, 38, welcomed guests — including husband Eric Winter (ex-Rex, Days Of Our Lives) and close pal Eva Longoria (ex-Isabella, The Young & The Restless)— to the outdoor garden party. Baby girl received many gifts — including a pink tricycle! 'Teen Wolf' Season 2: 'Dawson's Creek' star John Wesley Shipp gets madJohn Wesley Shipp (ex-Eddie, OLTL/ex-Kelly, GL/ex-Doug, ATWT/ex-Martin, Santa Barbara) will be playing Isaac's not-so-nice dad -- and the owner of Beacon Hills Cemetery. He sees a whole new side of his son after Derek brings Isaac into the wolf pack, and a few "mysterious incidents" plague him in particular. Shipp is headed to Atlanta to begin shooting the intense role next week. MTV confirms that we can expect to see him in two episodes.Of course, we know Shipp best from his role as Mitch, Dawson's ill-fated father, on "Dawson's Creek," but he's also got a following for his superhero role as "The Flash," in the early '90s. "Expanding my pantheon of Dads with WILDLY various parenting techniques-- from 'Have fun! Play Safe!' to beating my son unconscious," he wrote on his Facebook on Friday, Dec. 2. "I am happy to announce a new Dad: this time around for a couple of episodes of 'Teen Wolf.' Shooting commences December 6." (Just because it's awesome, we'd also like to share with you that the status update got a friendly comment from Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson's mom! "Big smile :) Love you my immortal husband...XO," she wrote. Best. Thing. Ever.) Hopefully, this time he won't be the victim of death-by-ice-cream. Relive the tragedy here. Eric Sheffer Stevens InterviewChecking in with Eric Sheffer Stevens. Read After Elton's interview with Eric Sheffer Stevens (ex-Reid, As The World Turns) here.Interview: Silbermann Heads To The Derby!AS THE WORLD TURNS fan favorite Jake Silbermann (Noah) has a lot invested in the new Off-Broadway play Derby Day, which opens this week at the Clurman Theatre. His new theater company, The Camisade Theatre, is presenting the dark comedy as their first production! "We're flying by the seat of our pants," Silbermann tells Soaps In Depth. "I'm producing this as well as acting in it, and forming a theater company in the process. It's been a little difficult."Set in a luxury box at the Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Ark., Derby Day tells the story of the Ballard brothers, and how a day of drinking at the racetrack and revealing family secrets might just tear them apart forever. "They are "celebrating" the death of their abusive father, whose presence is looming throughout the entire show," explains Silbermann, who plays ex-con Johnny. "He's had such an impact on these three mens' lives, and we see this cycle of violence and how it goes from generation to generation." The dark comedy does have a bright spot, however. "These three guys are just trying to do well with their lives. They hate themselves, they love each other, they hate each other. They've got a lot of history that they're not really equipped to deal with," he continues. "There are moments in the play that have me cracking up. A drama really becomes a dark comedy when it has a certain amount of laughs, and we cover that. It's a really funny, but sad, play." While Silbermann knows what to do on the stage, the behind-the-scenes work was a new animal for the actor. "Malcolm Madera is another actor in the play who is co-producing this as well. We were naïve enough to think it would be an easy thing," he says with a chuckle. "We worked on a play together last year and became good friends. He knows the writer, Samuel Brett Williams, and we approached him to commission something for us. We were describing what we wanted, and he said, 'I actually have something written that seems right up your alley.' As soon as I finished reading it, I said 'We are going to do this play.'" The three men went on to found the Camisade Theatre Company. Derby Day begins previews on Wednesday, November 30, and officially opens on Friday, December 1. The show will run through Saturday, December 17. For the full performance schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com. For more information on the play and Camisade Theatre Company, visit www.CamisadeTheatre.com. ATWT Christmas Episodes On DVDAs the World Turns (known as ATWT to its fans) was one of the first and best-loved series in the history of soap operas. It aired for more than 54 years on CBS, concluding its run in September of 2010. During its tenure, it garnered over 100 million viewers worldwide, won 62 Emmy awards, and was the top-rated daytime drama for 20 years. Christmas in Oakdale is a special time, when families and friends come together, celebrate the holidays, and try to forget their troubles. No matter what unresolved issues may lurk around the corner, at Christmas, love,friendship and family rule the day. CHRISTMAS IN OAKDALE EPISODE 2 EPISODE 3 EPISODE 4 EPISODE 5 For More info visit: www.soapclassics.com. Pelphrey Heads To Broadway!This coming spring, the final days of The Wizard Of Oz star Judy Garland will be played out night after night on a New York stage, and Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GUIDING LIGHT; Mick, AS THE WORLD TURNS) will be a part of it! The Emmy-winning actor has joined the American cast of London's West End hit, End Of The Rainbow, which will make its Broadway debut in April. Pelphrey will play Mickey Deans, Garland's much-younger fifth husband.Set in London in December 1968, Rainbow stars Tracie Bennett as Garland, who is about to make yet another comeback with a 5-week run at a West End theater. While Garland hopes that the shows will help her hold on to her star power, she struggles with strained personal relationships and a drug addiction that will ultimately lead to a fatal overdose six months later. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination -- London's version of the Tony Awards -- for her run in the musical drama earlier this year. While Pelphrey has been a part of many New York City plays in the past, this will mark his Broadway debut. End Of The Rainbow will have a pre-Broadway run at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from January 28 through March 11, and previews will begin at the Belasco Theater in Manhattan on March 19. For more information, visit EndoftheRainbowBroadway.com. That's Madam Martha To You!Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose, AS THE WORLD TURNS) makes her debut in the third season premiere of Web soap ANACOSTIA, and her fans might be a little surprised by her new role!"I play the head madam of a brothel," she chuckles. "I'm in charge of the girls. And I think the opening five minutes of the show are probably one of the most fun experiences I've ever had as an actor." Byrne credits the show's creator Anthony Anderson for creating the role of Alexis Jordan and giving her such juicy material to play. "I think some of the Lily fans might be taken aback by it," she allows, "but I'm an actor, and I have to do things that are challenging or edgy." The daytime vet will appear in a half-dozen episodes throughout the course of ANACOSTIA's third season, but taped all of her scenes over the course of a weekend. "I hadn't worked that hard in a really long time," Byrne confesses. "The heavy drama stuff is really draining. It's been a long time since I've had those kind of scenes that take a lot out of you physically and emotionally. I missed that." You can learn more about ANACOSTIA over at the show's official Web site (and catch up on the first two seasons!), and watch Byrne's debut in the series' third season premiere at the show's Vimeo page. But be warned, there is some adult content! "They can definitely get away with a lot edgier material on ANACOSTIA than I'd ever seen on television," Byrne marvels. "You can swear and you can say things that I was surprised you can say!" NY accountant admits bilking 'SVU' actress TunieA New York accountant has admitted stealing more than $1 million from actress Tamara Tunie (Judge Weston, Days/ex-Jessica, ATWT) and the Kansas City Symphony's music director.For more than a decade, Joseph Cilibrasi (sihl-ih-BRAY'-see) was the business manager for the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" actress. He pleaded guilty Thursday to grand larceny and other charges. The 51-year-old expects to get 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in prison at a Jan. 4 sentencing. Authorities say Cilibrasi admitted bilking about $1.4 million from Tunie. They say he secretly opened a credit card account in her name and wrote checks from her bank accounts without her permission. He also acknowledged stealing about $75,000 from the Kansas City Symphony's Michael Stern. Glee Casts Guiding Light Actress to Play Mama Trouty MouthGlee has cast Guiding Light and As The World Turns actress Tanya Clarke to play mom to Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), Entertainment Weekly reports.Gleeks will meet Mary Evans in the Dec. 6 episode and the role may recur. The actress, who has also appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles, will be paired with Smallville's John Schneider as Sam's dad. It was said that Sam and his family moved away from Lima, Ohio in the season premiere because his dad got a job in another town. Overstreet, however, has since inked a deal to return to Glee in a recurring capacity. AWT On DVDAs the World Turns (known as ATWT to its fans) was one of the first and best-loved series in the history of soap operas. It aired for more than 54 years on CBS, concluding its run in September of 2010. During its tenure, it garnered over 100 million viewers worldwide, won 62 Emmy awards, and was the top-rated daytime drama for 20 years.This 4-disc collection includes 20 of the program’s most memorable episodes. These episodes have been grouped into four categories: “Great Weddings”, “Secrets and Scandals”, “Villains and Vixens” and “Oakdale Through the Years” (Oakdale was the fictional town in which the series was set). For More info visit: www.soapclassics.com Soap Opera 451Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments: The first enhanced e-book of its kind, “Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments” by New York Times bestselling author and soap opera insider Alina Adams, features actor interviews, insider information, fans and fan favorites looking back on 45 of the most memorable moments in daytime television history, as well as links to view the selected scenes, and to the star-studded contributors’ personal sites, so that readers may interact with them personally. (An Internet connection is required and availability will vary depending on your viewing device).“Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments” includes interviews with: “All My Children’s” Eden Riegel on her character Bianca coming out as a lesbian to her mother, Erica Kane; “Another World’s” Linda Dano on her character Felicia's alcohol intervention; “Dark Shadow’s” Kathryn Leigh Scott on Barnabas bringing Josette back from the dead; “One Life to Live’s” headwriter Michael Malone on Marty's gang rape; “General Hospital’s” headwriter Thom Racina on scripting Luke and Laura's wedding; “Generations” creator Sally Sussman Morina on the show’s groundbreaking racial housing discrimination story; and dozens of other stars, writers, insiders and stories from “The Young and the Restless,” “As The World Turns,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Guiding Light”, “Passions,” “Texas,”“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Doctors” and many more. “Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama’s Greatest Moments” may be experienced via a tablet, iPad, cell-phone, lap-top or desk-top computer. All of the text may be read on the Kindle or Nook devices. Soap Alum Among Hurricane Irene's VictimsColleen Zenk (ex-Barbara, ATWT) shared via Twitter that her Easton, Connecticut home, which she moved into earlier this year, was ravaged by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene, which tore through the East Coast last week. On August 27 the actress tweeted: "Irene devastated my world. Her flood destroyed family pics, history, my children's memories & belongings. Career artifacts, too. Trying to dry family history. Thousands of photos. Childhood memories may not survive. No power for at least a week." Zenk's one-woman cabaret show, Colleen Zenk: Still Sassy! is set to premiere at Feinstein's in New York City on October 30.ATWT Alum EngagedTrent Dawson (ex-Henry, ATWT) has announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sharron Kearney via Facebook on August 25, posting, "Thanks for all the engagement love. Very excited. It's good to have hope-filled happiness to share and spiral out to friends and family. Spiral out. Keep going!" Congrats to the happy couple!Julianne Moore to Get Hooked on HBO's Dope?Julianne Moore (ex-Frannie, ATWT/ex-Carmen, Edge of Night) )is in talks to star in HBO's new miniseries Dope, Deadline.com reports. The miniseries — which would reunite Mildred Pierce producers Todd Hayans, John Wells and Christine Vachon — is a period drama set in 1950s New York in which a former heroin addict turns her life around to become a private detective. Moore will next appear as Sarah Palin in HBO's Game Change, a film about the 2008 presidential election.Afternoon Delight, IndeedAfternoon Delight, Indeed: Carolyn Hinsey's Hard-Hitting Soap Book Is Here: Read an interview here. and order your copy of "Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter": right here!ATWT Star Does Some DAMAGES!You remember Bailey Chase as hunky doctor Chris Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS. This summer, he'll be exchanging that lab coat for a suit in order to play Sean Everett, a partner in a New York law firm on DAMAGES. The Emmy-winning series, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, moves from FX to DIRECTV's Audience Nation with its Season 4 debut on Wednesday, July 13, at 10 p.m. EST. In his recurring role, Chase will be a love interest to Byrne's Ellen Parsons.OLTL Real-Life Couple Marries!You can now officially call them Mr. and Mrs! ONE LIFE TO LIVE stars Terri Conn (Aubrey) and Austin Peck (Rick) were married on July 1. "It's official," tweeted the groom on Saturday. "Miss Terri Conn is now Mrs. Terri Peck." The marriage marks the second for each actor, who met while playing husband and wife Brad and Katie on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Peck is the father to two boys, Aidan, almost 9, and Roman, 6, while Conn's daughter Julia will be 7 later this week. There is no official word yet from ABC if Conn will be using her married name professionally, as she did on ATWT while married to her first husband. Congratulations to the happy blended family!ATWT Star Has Passed AwayThe daytime world has lost one of its star villains forever: Anthony Herrera, whose James Stenbeck tortured AS THE WORLD TURNS' Oakdale and Barbara Ryan for 30 years, passed away on Tuesday, June 21. Herrera died at the age of 67 in Buenos Aries, Argentina, where he'd been living since 2005.In January 1997, Herrera was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma -- a rare and usually fatal cancer. In the course of his treatment, the actor underwent an autologous stem cell transplant and after a relapse, a donor transplant from his brother, the latter of which made medical history. Herrera even testified in The Senate in support of stem cell research. "The fact that I was asked to testify was a great honor," he told Soaps In Depth in 2008, adding that he wasn't the least bit intimidated by making his speech to Congress. "There aren't many people in the world who have had my life experience with cancer. I wasn't intimidated at all." Herrera was in remission for 10 years, and remained an advocate for government support in stem cell research. A veteran of the stage, film and television, Herrera -- who also had contract roles on LOVING as Dane and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Jack Curtis -- was the president of Poetry Theater, Inc., where actors such as Hume Cronyn, Charles Durning, Tyne Daly, and Willie Nelson have been known to recite verses on the stage. Donations in Herrera's memory can be made to Poetry Theatre, 210 West 70th Street, #808, New York, NY 10023. The book Herrera wrote about his battle, The Cancer War, is available to download for free at www.thecancerwar.com. Pale SwanWatch Van Hansis (ex-Luke, As The World Turns) in Black Swan parody, Pale Swan: videoFumbling thru the PiecesCheck out Hillary B. Smith's new Web series called "Fumbling thru the Pieces" www.youtube.com/fumblingthruProcter & Gamble moves from soap operas to tweetsGoodbye, "Guiding Light." Hello, YouTube.Procter & Gamble Co., whose sponsorship and production of daytime TV dramas helped coin the term "soap operas," has pulled the plug after 77 years. Instead, the maker of Tide detergent, Ivory soap and Olay skincare is following its customers online with a big push on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. "The digital media has pretty much exploded," marketing chief Marc Pritchard said in an interview. "It's become very integrated with how we operate, it's become part of the way we do marketing." The last P&G-produced soap opera, "As The World Turns," went off the air in September. The show was the leading daytime soap for decades, but had lost some two-thirds of its audience at the end. Over the years, P&G produced 20 soap operas for radio and TV. But ratings for daytime dramas have been sinking for years, as women, their target audience, increasingly moved into the workplace, switched to talk and reality shows, and spent more time using online media and social networking sites. P&G, the world's biggest advertiser, still buys individual commercials on daytime dramas. But the dollar amount has shrunk. P&G won't say by how much. Dori Molitor, whose WomanWise LLC agency specializes in marketing brands to women, says big companies are realizing that social media is an efficient way to connect with customers. "Social media has become mass media, and for women especially," she said. "I think for all marketers, these one-way, 30-second (TV) spots are very expensive, and are less effective for the way that women make decisions." Marketing experts say the biggest companies were generally slow to adapt to the rapid rise of social networks, but that beverage rivals Coca-Cola Co. and Pepsico Inc., and P&G and fellow consumer products makers Unilever PLC and Johnson & Johnson are among those quickly making up for lost time. In recent months, P&G began selling Pampers diapers on Facebook, offering an iPhone application for Always feminine products that allows women to track menstrual cycles and ask experts questions, and using social media to turn a campaign for the venerable Old Spice brand into a pop-culture icon. The "Smell like a Man, Man" commercials starring hunky former football player Isaiah Mustafa became a YouTube sensation, drawing tens of millions of views and spawning parodies such as one with Sesame Street's Grover, and generated another round of attention with Twitter questions that Mustafa answered in videos — such as on ABC's Good Morning America when he suggested that President Barack Obama could improve standing with female voters by wearing only a towel and beginning speeches with "Hello, Ladies!" The echo effect gives P&G a bigger bang for its nearly 9 billion bucks a year spent on advertising. "It is such an effective advertising campaign that we are getting impressions that we did not pay for," CEO Bob McDonald told investors recently, recounting that he saw an editorial cartoon showing Obama on horseback, a takeoff on Mustafa's "I'm on a horse" Old Spice catch-phrase. For a company known for measuring just about everything, P&G touts big numbers from Old Spice tracking: • Number of impressions (people who saw, read, or heard about commercials): 1.8 billion. • Number of YouTube views for Old Spice and related videos: 140 million and counting. • Increase in Twitter followers for Old Spice: 2,700 percent. P&G also said Old Spice sales are growing at double digits, taking more of the market for body washes and deodorant. Just 20 months ago, P&G hosted "digital night" at its Cincinnati headquarters by inviting Google, Facebook, Twitter and other online experts to help test ways online and digital media could be used in marketing. By the Vancouver Winter Olympics last February, P&G was coordinating TV commercials with Facebook messages and tracking instant reactions to new commercials on Twitter. P&G, which sponsored Team USA, unveiled sentimental "Thank you, Mom!" commercials at the Olympics that it estimates added $100 million in sales. The campaign has included Facebook essay contests and e-Cards for mothers. P&G says it's still exploring new uses for social media. "It's kind of the oldest form of marketing — word of mouth — with the newest form of technology," Pritchard said. Park Joins Broadway's Business!When the curtain rises on the Broadway revival of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying this spring, Tammy Blanchard (Drew, GUIDING LIGHT) won't be the only daytime alum sharing the stage with Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette in the production! It was announced today that Michael Park (Jack, AS THE WORLD TURNS) has been cast as Bert Bratt in the musical! The revival will be Park's fourth Broadway play, having previously been on The Great White Way in Carousel, Little Me and Smokey Joe's Cafe.How To Succeed will begin previews on February 26, and officially open on March 27, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. For ticket information, visit www.telecharge.com. Spider-Man Gets a Set of Parents and Another VillainCampbell Scott has joined the cast of Columbia’s new Spider-Man movie while Irrfan Khan, Annie Parisse (ex-Julia, As The World Turns) and Julianne Nicholson are in various stages of discussions to also join the production.The movie, under the direction of Marc Webb and starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, begins production this month in Los Angeles and is in the latter stages of its casting process. Scott and Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will be Parker’s parents, who leave their son an orphan. Parker’s parents have rarely been seen in the various Marvel comic book series and have never appeared on-screen. It is unclear if they will appear in flashbacks, in a prologue or during the course of the movie. Khan, best known for his work in Slumdog Millionaire, is playing a villain named Van Atter, joining Rhys Ifans as the movie’s bad guys. Parisse, who appeared most recently in couple of episodes of AMC’s Rubicon, will be the villain’s wife. Scott, repped by Paradigm, recurs on TV’s Royal Pains and also appeared in Damages. ATWT Blooper ReelIf you're missing AS THE WORLD TURNS like we are, here's a little something that might put a smile on your face instead. Watch favorites like Michael Park (Jack), Maura West (Carly), Van Hansis (Luke) and Don Hastings (Bob) run afoul of forgotten lines, uncooperative props, a surprise loogie and a cameo from Igor the pet fly! (Our favorite is Hal's super-speedy helicopters!): VideoATWT's Hansis Gets Ambushed!Check out AS THE WORLD TURNS's Van Hansis (ex-Luke) in this quirky short film, produced by The Elbow Room Society, called "Club Car Ambush."As The World Turns: Final Episode ExtrasWatch video of extra scenes that didn't make in into the final episodeGoodbye to World Turns, to Oakdale, Bay City, and SpringfieldToday is the last day Procter & Gamble will air a soap opera. “As the World Turns” ends its 54 year run. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956.Over the years the little town of Oakdale, Illinois was joined by villages on the P&G soap map created also by Irna Phillips and Agnes Nixon. Bay City (“Another World”), Springfield (“Guiding Light”), Henderson (“Search for Tomorrow”) and Monticello (“The Edge of Night”) were all small towns that happened to be big cities too. Everyone knew each other, but the towns had international airports, beaches, rivers, docks, world class billionaires, surgeons, and lawyers, and a few working class families. There were rarely Jews or blacks in the P&G towns. There were no Asians. Even though President Kennedy was shot during “World Turns” live half hour in 1963, it was never mentioned by the characters. When the World Trade Center attacks happened, it registered barely a blip in Oakdale. They had enough to worry about. Only recently did gay people come to town, and that was because the producers knew the run was nearly over, and there was little to be lost. (In fact, funnily enough, the gay story became one of the most popular.) And maybe that’s why we loved it. Oakdale, Bay City–they were steps out of time, lives on alternate planets.How refreshing and relaxing it was to zone out for an hour and let the little problems of the Hughes and Stewart families in Oakdale take over. And now, after five decades, the people will live on You Tube and in memory. P&G wanted out, and they got out. It was ugly. At “Guiding Light.” they tortured the cast, crew and fans for 18 months before letting them all go. On “World Turns,” the same producer P&G used to shepherd out “Another World” –Christopher Goutman–just gored the show and let its carcass be eaten by bugs. This summer, instead of giving the fans returns of old characters, and resolutions of 50 years, he wasted four precious weeks by locking fictional fashion designer Barbara Ryan (the gorgeous 32 year vet Colleen Zenk) in a warehousewith an inanimate party clown. It was if P&G were saying, “We want you to have terrible memories of the end.” Congrats, guys. You did it. Besides Zenk, there are about a dozen “vets” on “As the World Turns.” Everyone talks about who got their start on soaps, but it’s the actors who stayed, or who were able to deal with P&G, that made the show so memorable. Don Hastings, Kathryn Hays, Eileen Fulton, Ellen Dolan, Scott Holmes, Elizabeth Hubbard, Kathleen Widdoes, Marie Masters, Anthony Herrera, the recently passed matriarch Helen Wagner, and the amazing Larry Bryggman, who did come back to help clean up. When we were kids, the late Henderson Forsythe was also one of the show’s mainstays and we loved him as Dr. David Stewart. Pat Bruder was his long suffering wife Ellen. Rosemary Prinz was the first soap “star” as Penny Hughes. There are only a few soaps left, and they’re all heading to their ends. Soon bouts of blindness, paralysis, amnesia, sudden discoveries of paternity and maternity (only on a soap could a mother not know she had a child), hysterical pregnancy, reversed vasectomies, murder, kidnapping, stalking, and one death from falling up, not down, stairs (Dan Stewart’s wife, Liz)– will be things of the past. Soon we’ll just be left with noise: cheap games shows, second rate Snooki’s, and more inane chattering. Believe me, even Les Moonves is going to miss Oakdale in a few weeks. "World" Stops "Turning" As Long-Running Soap EndsIt was the end of another era for daytime television today as the long-running CBS soap "As The World Turns" ended its incredible 54-year run.The last episode marked an emotional goodbye not only for the cast and its millions of viewers, but for Pittsburgh soap fans who have also shared fond memories with the cast. The show has become family to viewers as well as the cast. "It was the most difficult thing of letting go of 'Barbara Ryan,' was letting go of my 'As the World Turns' family," said Colleen Zenk, who plays Barbara Ryan on the show. Pittsburgh soap fans can't help but look back on the 54 years of memories and cherish the times they actually met the cast in person. Most recently, Van Hansis, who plays Luke Snyder on the soap, traveled to Pittsburgh for the KDKA-TV Soap Star Spectacular at the Petersen Events Center this summer. Fans may also remember when the some of the cast came to the 'Burgh in 2009 to film scenes for the show on the North Side. The actors said they really enjoyed their time in the city. "I'm so used to Manhattan, where everything is so tight, that when I see a little bit of space and people having room to move, that surprises me," said Maura West, who plays Carly Tenney on the show. Michael Park, who plays Jack Snyder, said he has fond memories of Pittsburgh from his childhood where he lived for about a year. "Coming back, it always... lights up my parent's faces when I tell them I'm going to Pittsburgh," he said during his visit to the area. "As The World Turns" now joins "Guiding Light" in cancellation. "Guiding Light" went off the air last year. Interview with Jon Hensley and Martha ByrneRead it at TVguide.ca'As the World Turns' Airs Final Episode, After 54 YearsDaytime soap opera As The World Turns aired its final episode Friday afternoon after 54 years and nearly 14,000 episodes. Over the course of its half-century run, the soap launched the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars—Julianne Moore, Meg Ryan, Lauryn Hill, and Martin Sheen all started their acting careers on the soap.Why has the show finally gone off the air? In the September issue of The Atlantic, James Parker's piece "As the World Turned" examined how the reality TV soap operas born of the classic daytime genre may be the very catalyst for its demise: How to mark the passing of a universe that never existed? With invisible bells, and wreaths made of newspaper, and eulogies delivered from Styrofoam pulpits? Or with the slack jaws of 2 million viewers, a single thought in every brain: Okay ... So now what do I do? Two million. That's a lot of people, but not very many viewers. As a viewership, in fact, it's almost negligible. Thus CBS's inevitable decision to terminate, this month, after decades on the air, its onetime flagship soap opera, As the World Turns. Can we be surprised? The mesmeric hold of the soap, the spell of its simmering close-ups and spiraling plotlines, has been broken. The deaths and births of these made-up communities no longer fill our hearts. Kim Kardashian, Brangelina, the kids from The Hills: these are the people we care about now. Meanwhile every man tweets his own serial narrative, from the line at Starbucks. Still, As the World Turned has a long history of pushing boundaries in the landscape of television, most recently by airing daytime's first same-sex kiss. CBS News put together a retrospective of the show and its legacy: Video 'As the World Turns' stops spinning after 54 yearsIt's the last go-round for "As the World Turns."TV's oldest daytime drama aired its final episode Friday, concluding a run that began in April 1956. Always full of emotional turmoil, "World" was set in the mythical town of Oakdale, Ill., where there was no shortage of couplings, heartbreak, double-dealing and hairpin plot twists. CBS announced in December that it was pulling the plug on the New York-based show, which ranked at the bottom of the ratings among network soaps. It wrapped production in June. Big events this week included Jack (Michael Park) remarrying oft-wed Carly (Maura West). Janet (Julie Pinson) gave birth to her ex-husband Jack's son. Then a DNA test revealed the father of the child was really Janet's betrothed, Dusty (Grayson McCouch). And — more joyous news — Carly learned she was pregnant with Jack's child. "I think things turned out exactly the way they were supposed to," Janet said. Friday's finale found Dr. Bob Hughes (played for a half-century by Don Hastings) in a reflective mood as he prepared to retire at day's end as head of Oakdale Memorial Hospital. "I was just thinking about this place," he mused — "how many patients I've taken care of here, some of them from their first breath (dramatic pause) to their last." "Good night," said Dr. Bob at the close of the hour, as he doused the lights of his office and took his leave. On his desk, an illuminated globe was seen spinning at the poignant fade-out. The demise of "World" follows by a year the end of CBS' "Guiding Light" after 72 years on radio, then TV. On Oct. 18, CBS will fill the slot "World" occupied with "The Talk," a daily chat show whose hosts include Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne. A look back at the supercouples of 'As the World Turns, ' which ends its 54-year run on CBS todayThe final curtain falls today for long-running soap opera "As the World Turns, " which debuted as a 30-minute serial on April 2, 1956.In its 54 years, "ATWT" dominated the ratings for two decades, prompted a prime-time spinoff ("Our Private World"), introduced daytime television's first gay male character (Hank Elliot) in 1988 and won four daytime Emmy Awards for best show. It also created some of soap's greatest supercouples. Here are five that "ATWT" fans will never forget. Holden and Lily Played by: Jon Hensley and Martha Byrne Holden Snyder and Lily Walsh captured soap fans' hearts with their poor-boy, rich-girl love story. They met during the 1987 season when Holden was a stable boy working for Lily's mother. Their on-again, off-again relationship weathered the possibility of their being related, amnesia, two of Holden's secret love children, kidnappings and more. Even when apart, their feelings for one another were evident. Together, they had three children: Faith, Ethan and Natalie. Jeff and Penny Played by: Mark Rydell and Rosemary Prinz As the soap's first supercouple, Jeff Baker and Penny Hughes were credited with launching the show to No. 1. Their storied romance reached its pinnacle in 1958 when they married on Christmas Eve, and viewers across the country reportedly tuned in, dressed in their Sunday best. Jeff also recorded a love song for her, aptly named "Penny." Their romance ended when Jeff died in a car accident. Steve and Betsy Played by: Frank Runyeon and Meg Ryan The star-crossed love of Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart began with a deathbed promise to Steve's brother that drove Betsy to marry another man. But her love for Steve repeatedly brought her back into his arms, and upon discovering her daughter, Dani, was his, Betsy married Steve on May 30, 1984. Their wedding was watched by 20 million viewers, making it the second-highest rated episode in U.S. soap history. Luke and Noah Played by: Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer were named one of television's top power couples by TV Guide and great supercouples by Entertainment Weekly. They are the first gay supercouple on daytime TV. At first Noah struggled to accept his sexuality but eventually admitted his feelings for Luke. The characters made history by sharing the first gay male kiss on U.S. daytime television. Tom and Margo Played by: Scott Holmes and Ellen Dolan Tom Hughes and Margo Montgomery fell in love while investigating Mr. Big. They married in 1983 and went on to become a soap anomaly: They were one of the only supercouples to marry and stay that way for more than 25 years. Their marriage survived affairs, resulting in each having a child by his or her lover; Margo facing murder charges twice and being raped; a legal separation; and plenty of drama involving their son, Casey. After 54 years, 'As the World Turns' ends todayThe world stops turning today for the people of Oakdale, Illinois, when the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" ends after more than 54 years on the air."As the World Turns" debuted on April 2, 1956, and was the highest rated soap for 20 years (1958-1978). The soap was famously interrupted by Walter Cronkite at 1:40 p.m. on November 22, 1963, to announce the shooting of President John F. Kennedy. "As the World Turns" chronicled the dramatic lives of the Snyder, Hughes, Ryan and Montgomery families, but more recently made waves introducing two popular gay characters -- Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer. "As the World Turns" was the country's second longest-running soap opera. The longest running soap was its sister show, "The Guiding Light," which went off the air last year after 72 years of combined television and radio broadcast. Today's final episode -- the 13,858th one -- was taped on June 23, 2010. Soap operas are in trouble these days because, just as with primetime programming, reality shows and talk shows are cheaper to produce. And many reality shows play out like soap operas anyway. "As the World Turn's" most recent ratings averaged 2.51 million viewers, making it the least watched soap still on the air. "As the World Turns" will be replaced by "The Talk," a new talk show with Julie Chen. "The Talk" debuts on October 18. ‘World’ stops turningCBS soap fades to black after 54 yearsYou can view the clip on YouTube: Dr. Bob Hughes lunching with a fellow doctor in a scene aired live on “As the World Turns” the afternoon of Nov. 22, 1963. “Shall we get a menu?” Hughes says to his dining companion. “Waiter! I’d like to order. I’m kind of hungry.” That scene was the last the TV audience would see of “As the World Turns” that day as CBS News seized the schedule for continuous coverage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The young, dark-headed actor who played Dr. Bob, as well as the rest of the cast, completed the show shielded from both the fact of its pre-emption and the terrible reason why. Only after the episode’s final fade-out did they learn of the tragedy, as the actor portraying Dr. Bob, Don Hastings, recalled during the final days of taping the series in June. Now 76 and handsomely silver-haired, Hastings was in his dressing room between scenes at the Brooklyn studio the series has called home for the past decade. He was still playing Dr. Bob – lately the head of Oakdale Memorial Hospital and, as always, endowed with a perfect bedside manner – just a few months shy of 50 years after landing the part. But Hastings won’t get to reach his half-century milestone in October. On Friday, TV’s oldest daytime drama (airing weekdays at 2 p.m.) will fold. In June, “ATWT” wrapped production forever. It first aired April 2, 1956. “It’s been a job and a home and friendships for 50 years,” said Hastings, an avuncular, era-spanning presence as he pondered the series’ end. “I don’t think it’s hit me yet.” The summer after CBS’ “Guiding Light” was cut down after 72 years on radio and then television, the doomsday scenario that has plagued soaps for decades has now claimed “ATWT.” ABC’s “General Hospital,” which premiered in April 1963, will now inherit the title of American TV’s oldest soap. (Though it’s edged out worldwide by British TV’s “Coronation Street,” which premiered in December 1960.) Used to be, there were a dozen or more daytime dramas on U.S. networks. Soon there will be only six, with only ABC’s “One Life to Live” still originating in New York. The ratings for all of them are a fraction of what they once were and continue in a downward spiral. “ATWT,” ranked last, this season is averaging 2.4 million viewers, whereas in the 1991-92 season, it drew 6.7 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Co. “This show was created in the 1950s, and now there are different viewing patterns, different economic models, and we’re all fighting a tough fight to stay in the business,” said Chris Goutman, “ATWT” executive producer since 1999. “Daytime has been in trouble for a long time, and we’re part of that bigger picture. “But when was the time that I thought we were fighting a losing battle? Never. I always think we’re going to win the battle. But this time we didn’t.” Last December, CBS made it official, a death decree that, paired with the demise of “Guiding Light,” marks the exit of Procter & Gamble’s production arm from the soap opera business. This, of course, is a company for which the term “soap opera” was coined in the radio era when it began deploying such shows to advertise its detergent and soap products. (“ATWT” took over the studio space where yet another Procter & Gamble soap, “Another World,” was taped until NBC canceled it in 1999.) Like many soaps, “ATWT” is set in a bucolic but scandal-beset Midwestern burg – in this case, Oakdale, Ill. Having always centered on two families – the Lowells and the Hugheses – it premiered April 2, 1956, with mild-mannered Nancy Hughes saying, “Good morning, dear.” She was played by Helen Wagner, who was among those seen on that fateful episode the day Kennedy died. She made occasional appearances as recently as this spring. She passed away in May at 91. Hastings and Eileen Fulton (who joined “ATWT” in May 1960 as the vixenish Lisa Grimaldi) are now the senior cast members. Longevity, of course, is a hallmark of soap operas. Unique in the otherwise mercurial world of TV, the life spans of successful soaps are measured in decades, even generations. Firm bonds are formed by viewers with a soap and its characters, as well as the actors who play them – and keep playing them. “The idea of being tied down for a whole year challenged my sense of an actor as a gypsy,” said Kathryn Hays, who in 1972 returned to New York from California to take the role of Kim Hughes. “I came back with two suitcases – one full of clothes, one full of pots and pans,” Hays recalled. She never left. (For the last quarter-century, Kim has been married to Dr. Bob.) “It’s a different script every day, and the life that you’re leading in the show moves on, and over a period of years, it’s like you’re living another life,” she said, trying to describe her job’s appeal. “But now, your character is no longer going to be there,” she went on, her eyes welling, her voice choking up. “You’ve been living that character for almost 40 years. You invest yourself in that character. I know who she is.” Her voice dropped to a theatrical whisper. “She’s mine.” Like Hays, Marnie Schulenburg has come to value the cumulative power of playing a soap character, even after just three years on the show. As Alison Stewart, a perky hospital aide and former crystal-meth addict, the 26-year-old Schulenburg noted that on daytime, “when your character has memories, or you’re talking about something she’s experienced, you’ve actually been through it with the character in the past – so these are real memories. It’s really cool.” Schulenburg was nominated for an acting award at this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony – one of 13 nominations snagged by “ATWT.” “I feel like Alison is another person,” Schulenburg said. “That’s what makes me sad: I’m going to miss her.” “I think I was in shock for a while,” said Terri Colombino, who for 12 years has played the oft-wed, ever-looking-for-love Katie Peretti. The idea of parting company with Katie “feels like a death,” she said, wiping her eyes – “which is good that we’re having a sad story line at the end, so we can all kind of work through it. It’s very cathartic.” But it has also been hard to get through, filled with painful reminders that the show will soon be history. Reminders are even here in her dressing room. Colombino pointed to her makeup mirror. Only four of its bulbs were still lit, the other 14 bulbs burned out. “They’re not replacing them,” she explained with a rueful laugh. “Because we’re done.” Soap fans lament end of 'As the World Turns'Longtime soap opera fans are sad about the end of TV era coming Friday."As The World Turns" airs for the last time, the latest daytime drama to go because of fallen ratings. The show made its debut in 1956 for Procter & Gamble Co., the Cincinnati-based maker of soap and many other household products. It was once a big hit. Thirty-eight-year-old Melanie Cosgrove of suburban Cincinnati says she started watching while pregnant and hasn't missed an episode in 18 years. Cosgrove tells The Cincinnati Enquirer she's already sad her grown-up baby is ready to leave for college, and now she'll lose her TV "friends." Fifty-eight-year-old Pat Heasley remembers watching with her mother as a child in Fort Wright, Ky. Mom kept her updated during school years. As the World Turns, Coming to an EndAnother chapter in broadcasting history is drawing to a close. After nearly 54 years, As the World Turns is ending its run on CBS. Once a staple of day time television, high production costs are putting soap operas on the the endangered species list. As the World Turns made its debut on the Tiffany network on April 2, 1956. Lou Toler, of Starkville started tuning in a short time later. Lou remembers, "We were watching it the day that John F. Kennedy got assassinated. They interrupted the show to tell about it." When Lou stopped working to raise her daughter, As the World Turns was there, every step of the way. Lou smiles when she says, "We watched it all those years. I even brought her up on it. Big ole TV on the wall. Sit her over on the floor, and I'd put her in front of the TV, so she grew up watching As the World Turns." When Lou went back to work her husband gave her a transistor radio, and she listened on her lunch break. Then the VCR became popular and Lou has missed nary an episode since. Lou says, "I have a small family, but then I have a real big extended family, and so, they are part of my extended family. They really are, all the characters on there, I have enjoyed watching through the years. Some are more favorite than others, are, but it really has been interesting to keep up with." Lou and her daughter are having a pizza party in honor of the last episode. Then next week, she'll have an extra hour in her day. Lou laments, "I don't really know what I'm going to watch. There is enough game shows on now, that I don't care anything about game shows. I'd much rather watch as the World Turns." How will it end? We'll all find out soon enough. The final episode of As the World Turns will air Friday (9-17) at 1:00 in the afternoon, right here on WCBI. It will be replaced in a few weeks by "The Talk". It's a day time talk show, hosted by a panel of celebrity moms including, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, and Sharon Osbourne. They'll tackle topical events and contemporary issues."As the World Turns" Cancellation Marks the End of an EraCompanies put so much time and money into their efforts to establish household names that it always amazes me when they turn around and destroy one. Not that it happens very often. But it's going to happen September 17, when the final episode of the venerable soap opera As the World Turns will be telecast. ATWT was the breakout serial that made soaps a driving force in American popular culture and set the stage for daytime dramas to enjoy a half-century of robust success. I can't help but wonder why CBS and Procter & Gamble, the two corporate giants that made it so vital for so long, would choose to eliminate a product that is so well known it is recognized even by those who don't use it (or in this case watch it).Like many people reading this column, I wasn't around when ATWT debuted way back on April 2, 1956. But I remember my mother and my friends' mothers watching it when I was a kid. I think all people born anytime during the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies can recall something about this show from their childhoods or teen years, perhaps because it was the highest rated daytime drama from 1958-1978. Even if they never watched it they probably heard people talk about it. They might remember, as depicted last season on Mad Men, that it was famously interrupted on November 22, 1963 for a devastating announcement by CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Or they might recall the recurring sketch that it inspired on The Carol Burnett Show titled As the Stomach Turns, which itself became a commonly used comic phrase. They might also remember that ATWT in the summer of 1965 seeded a primetime spin-off titled Our Private World. Like millions of other soap opera enthusiasts, I was all worked up one year ago when CBS and P&G Productions killed Guiding Light, a legendary soap that started on radio in the Thirties. I wondered why nobody in the television business could come up with a way to continue so historic a franchise - as a weekly primetime show, a basic cable series, a groundbreaking Internet production, a series of made-for-television movies. But the Light went out, the world kept turning, and here it is a year later and another soap that can only be described as iconic is falling victim to the inability of current television executives to think outside the box. There was a time not too long ago when I thought ATWT would actually revitalize daytime drama. It certainly tried to become contemporary and offer something new. In recent years the show added to its canvas two gay characters -- Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer - and suddenly enjoyed more online publicity than any other soap. (It was as if broadcast soaps were finally catching up with MTV's notably diverse reality serial The Real World.) Indeed, savvy young viewers who were drawn to this storyline lifted the Luke and Noah scenes (hundreds of them over the years) out of daily recordings of the show and posted them on YouTube, launching a new kind of character-specific soap opera watching. Meantime, CBS debuted a reality series on its Web site titled InTurn in which aspiring young actors lived together and competed for a contract role on ATWT. InTurn ran for three seasons. No matter what the producers of ATWT tried, though, it seems it was never enough to save the show from the multiple corporate and creative forces that were coming together to destroy it -- and, in fact, all broadcast soap operas. To anyone who gets them, to anyone who understands the deep emotional connection that comes with following well-crafted stories featuring multi-generational characters on a daily basis over a long period of time, there is nothing else in the media landscape that comes close. Consider the unforgettable drama last week on ATWT as the long-running Luke and Noah storyline was brought to a hugely emotional conclusion. Even the short version reads like the stuff of classic soap opera: Luke's new love interest, brilliant but distant surgeon Reid Oliver, who restored Noah's eyesight a short while ago, tragically died from injuries sustained in a car accident while racing to another city to retrieve a donor heart for his ailing arch-rival Dr. Chris Hughes, with whom he was competing for the position of chief of staff at the city hospital. In grand soap style, Reid insisted that Chris receive his heart just before he died. (Van Hansis, the actor who portrays Luke, deserves an Emmy for his heart-wrenching performance during the story of Reid's death. Then again, given the fiasco that the Daytime Emmys have become, maybe I shouldn't wish that embarrassment on him and should instead just encourage the networks to find this guy a primetime role he can run with.) At the other end of the age range, and no less engrossing, the long absent Dr. John Dixon (the esteemed Larry Bryggman), who has deep ties to a number of other characters, has been brought back for the show's final weeks, and it has been splendid watching him interact with the family members and friends he has ignored for years - especially his bitter ex, ruthless businesswoman Lucinda Walsh (Elizabeth Hubbard, one of daytime's finest). This has been soap storytelling at its best: John's return has reignited and partially resolved a number of old storylines while also advancing much current drama. (For example, John performed the Reid/Chris heart transplant.) I'll miss such memorable moments from As the World Turns, as I do those from Guiding Light and so many other soaps, some long gone, others still with us but no longer delivering the goods. The particular long-term viewing pleasure that daily dramas provide is still something that only broadcast television can offer, but as soaps continue to suffer and die it's getting increasingly difficult to find. Soon, all we'll have left are endless variations on Bravo's trashy Real Housewives franchise. Colleen Zenk InterviewAs the World Turns Gives Colleen Zenk a Fitting Farewell: Read the TV Guide Interview here!End of 'As the World Turns' impacts Canandaigua's Michael ParkAs the World Turns signs off Friday after more than 54 years and 13,000 episodes.Its departure leaves only five daytime soap operas left on commercial television, and draws a close to a show that was part of pop culture fabric. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Walter Cronkite cut into the As the World Turns episode, which is credited with a string of phone calls spreading the word of the shooting. "They say all good things need to come to an end. I know that's a cliché, and I'm using it, but it's very sad," says Michael Park, the Canandaigua native who played Jack Snyder on the show. Park, who won a Daytime Emmy this year for his role, was in town on Monday night to receive the Spirit Award from the local nonprofit theater group Break a Leg. "I haven't watched it because it does kind of hurt," says Park, who doesn't know why it's affecting him this way. "I'm usually not that sentimental. ... The fans have been wonderful, and my heart really goes out to them." Critics point to soap supercouples from the show such as Holden Snyder and Lily Walsh; Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart (whose fictional wedding on May 30, 1984, was watched by 20 million viewers, making it the second highest-rated episode in U.S. soap history); Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer, the first gay supercouple on daytime TV; and the show's stalwart Tom Hughes and Margo Montgomery Hughes. If the show had continued, Park's character, Jack Snyder, and his on-screen love, Carly Tenney, would likely have joined that list. Maura West, who plays Tenney, also won a Daytime Emmy this summer for her role. Park, who has returned to the New York City stage for now, says he's not sure what will replace soaps. He suspects that they'll creep back into schedules through syndication, cable or the Internet. The only question left for As the World Turns this week? Will Carly and Jack's wedding go off without a hitch? Tune in until Friday to find out. 'As The World Turns' ends runIt’s not just the end of “The World,” but the end of a TV legacy.After the final “As The World Turns” Friday, Procter & Gamble won’t have a daytime drama on the airwaves for the first time in 77 years, since “Ma Perkins” aired on WLW-AM in 1933. “You could say it’s the death of the soap opera, because it’s the last soap still produced by a soap company,” said Sam Ford, 27, a Kentucky native who has taught “As The World Turns” classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When the show debuted in 1956, P&G had “Ma Perkins” on radio and four other TV shows: “Search For Tomorrow,” “The Edge Of Night,” “Guiding Light” and “The Bright Day.” (CBS canceled “Guiding Light” in 2009.) The story of the Hughes family in fictional Oakdale quickly caught on with viewers, becoming the top-rated daytime serial 1958-78. Fans are mourning the loss. Melanie Cosgrove, 38, of Delhi Township hasn’t missed an episode in 18 years. She started watching while pregnant and ordered to bed rest in 1992. “I am so sad it’s ending. It’s been a constant in my life,” said Cosgrove, whose daughter turns 18 Thursday. “I’m already emotional about losing my baby when she leaves for college next summer, and I’m losing my TV ‘friends” of 18 years.” Pat Heasley, 58, remembers watching with her mother as a child in Fort Wright. “Mom would fill me in during the school year with what was going on,” said Heasley of Anderson Township. Heasley recalls watching young Julianne Moore on the show. Meg Ryan, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Martin Sheen, James Earl Jones, Dana Delany, Parker Posey and Ming-Na also played early roles there. Mount Auburn native Marie Masters, who has played Dr. Susan Stewart on the show for 35 years, remembers Moore having braces on her teeth, and Posey “wearing ripped T-shirts and scuzzy flip-flops .” Masters – who graduated from Saint Bernard’s former Our Lady of Angels High School in 1959 as Marie Mastruserio – believes the bubble could burst soon for the six soaps that will be left on TV. Viewers have plunged by 80 pecent – from 6.4 million to 1.3 million – since 1991, according to Nielsen. “I don’t think the rest of the shows have long to go. People have moved on,” she said. The world has changed radically since “The World” started spinning stories in 1956 sponsored by Oxydol or Duz detergents, notes P&G spokeswoman Jeannie Tharrington. “Not only are a lot of women not home anymore, there’s also competition from cable, DVRs and online videos like YouTube,” she said. P&G has shifted pursuit of consumers to producing quarterly family movies on NBC with Walmart; working with producer America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”) on MTV’s new “Pedro & Maria” telenovela; producing the “People’s Choice Awards”; and making “My Black Is Beautiful” for BET. P&G has produced more than 50 TV movies and miniseries, plus “Circus of the Stars” and other specials. “We’re certainly proud of ‘As The World Turns.’ The legacy soaps that got us into production created a chance for us to do other shows,” Tharrington said P&G wanted to keep “As The World Turns” on the air for “another year or two,” she said, but CBS canceled it. The soap will be replaced on Oct. 18 by “The Talk,” a “View”-like show with Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini. P&G tried to move the show to another network, cable, syndication or online without success, she said. “It’s a shame P&G got out of the soap opera business. I became a fan of the company because of the exposure to their products during commercials," said Bonnie Shelley, 58, of Deerfield Township. “As The World Turns” ends with main character Dr. Bob Hughes (Don Hastings) retiring. The taping was “chaotic and crazy. People were crying and laughing and breaking down,” Masters said. “They respected the format. I liked that. Life in Oakdale goes on,” Masters said. “But there will never be closure. It’s heart-breaking that they (P&G) are out of the business.” Longtime soap "As the World Turns" comes to a halt this weekThe scene, which aired live in black and white, would have long ago been forgotten if a CBS News bulletin had not interrupted "As the World Turns" that day at 1:40 p.m., nine minutes and 58 seconds into the broadcast.Nancy Hughes, played by Helen Wagner, was chatting with her father-in-law, "Grandpa" (Santos Ortega), about how her son Bob (Don Hastings) had invited his ex-wife for Thanksgiving dinner — because he said he didn't want her to eat alone on the holiday. "That's real nice of the boy," Grandpa said, to which Nancy began, "And I thought about it, and I gave it a great deal of thought, Grandpa …" The next voice heard was Walter Cronkite's: "In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas …" On Nov. 22, 1963, "As the World Turns" was seven years old and the most watched daytime drama in America. It would live on for almost another 47 years, and weather a succession of eras in American history, from the Cold War into the Internet age. But the end is now near. Last December, CBS announced it was shutting down "ATWT." The final (13,858th) episode, taped on June 23 at its Brooklyn studios, will air Friday, ending the storied run of a daytime legend. "It's been around for 54 years. In this day and age, you're lucky if a show goes five years," says Marie Wilson, who has played Meg Snyder since 2005, shuttling between Parsippany and Los Angeles during that time. "When something like that ends, it's like the end of an era. It's very heartbreaking." The late Irna Phillips created "ATWT" as a sister show for "Guiding Light," which had its last airing, after 72 years (on radio and TV), last Sept. 18. Both shows eventually succumbed to sagging ratings, changing times, the proliferation of viewer choices and so-called "reality" series, which also deal in serialized story lines and colorful characters. "The No. 1 factor is money. Reality shows are basically soap operas, and they're cheaper to produce," says Bergen County resident Terri Colombino, who had played Katie Peretti since 1998. "If you're going to the store [to buy] an apple and there's one for $1 and there's one for $500, which one are you going to buy? … "We have such a huge cast. It takes so much money to produce these shows every day," Colombino says. What's more, Wilson notes, with so many women now in the workforce, there are fewer people home watching daytime TV. How different things were on April 2, 1956, when "ATWT" debuted, one of the first two soaps to run a half-hour rather than 15 minutes. (The other, "The Edge of Night," bowed the same day.) Set in the fictional Oakdale, Ill., "ATWT," which expanded to an hour in 1995, chronicled the trials and tribulations of the Snyder, Hughes, Ryan and Montgomery families. It aimed for less melodrama, and more realism in dialogue and character development, than many other soaps. And the key to the show's longevity was its "message of survival in families when crisis comes," says Martha Byrne, the Waldwick native who played Lily Walsh Snyder for a total of 19 years, between 1985 and 2008. "It was an identifiable show. It was always about family, and when we did shows that weren't about family is when the fans reacted in a negative way," says Byrne, who also played Lily's twin sister, Rose, from 2000 to 2005. "In soap operas you deal with the extremes of family issues and drama. … No one's been kidnapped seven times like I've been, but I'm sure people watched to see how I would get out of those situations. … You could relate to it in some way." And even in extreme circumstances, Byrne says, she aimed to make her character's ordeal as realistic as possible, so fans would not wonder, for example, "Why does she have a French manicure when she's been tied up in a basement for eight days?" For Kelley Menighan Hensley of Old Tappan, who has played Emily Stewart since 1992, that realism took getting used to. The actress, who'd grown up on ABC soaps and had never seen "ATWT," checked it out before testing for the show. "I turned on an episode, and it happened to be a scene in the Snyder kitchen, which I thought was the strangest thing I had ever seen on a daytime soap opera," she says. "I grew up watching 'All My Children,' and … it was all about mansions and fancy clothes and there's this Snyder kitchen that looks like it's dated from the 1950s. I thought, what did I get myself into?" Hensley, who met her husband, actor Jon Hensley (Holden Snyder), on "ATWT," came to love being part of the show. She got to work with long-timers like Marie Masters (Susan Stewart), Kathryn Hays (Kim Hughes), Eileen Fulton (Lisa Grimaldi), Don Hastings (Dr. Bob Hughes) and the aforementioned Helen Wagner, who died on May 1. Wagner spoke the very first line of the series ("Good morning, dear"). "For as old as she was when she finally passed, she could tell you anything about our show," Hensley says. Wagner was the one Cronkite interrupted when CBS News cut into the program several times before going to wall-to-wall coverage of JFK's assassination. Hastings was also in scenes that day, and he recently shared his recollections with Colombino. "When they cut in, everybody in the booth knew because they could see the TV, [but] they didn't tell the actors, because they had to come right back and finish the scenes and they knew how devastated the actors would be," Colombino says, adding that Hastings said that the cast learned later that day. In the genre's heyday, there were a dozen soap operas on the air. Now, there are but a handful left. And with 2.51 million viewers, "ATWT" is the least watched daytime soap. Sometime this fall, CBS will fill its time slot (2 p.m. weekdays) with "The Talk," a talk show on the order of ABC's "The View." But for two decades, from 1958 until 1978, "ATWT" was the most-watched daytime soap, drawing 10 million viewers per day. "I get very emotional knowing that I was a small part of something so historical," Colombino says. "There's never going to be any show that's gonna last as these shows did, ever. I mean, it's just not the way of the world anymore." Eileen Fulton InterviewEileen Fulton Says Farewell to As the World Turns: read the TV Guide interview here!'As the World Turns,' one of TV's legendary soap operas, ends its 54-year runFirst, CBS extinguished the "Light." Now, a year later, the network is bringing the "World" to an end. Sound like apocalyptic tidings? They certainly are for the languishing daytime soap opera, which is about to lose another of its illustrious representatives, "As the World Turns." CBS dumped "Guiding Light" last September. That closed the book on a record run of 72 years, beginning on radio in 1937 and jumping to television in 1952."As the World Turns" will stop spinning with the episode airing at 2 p.m. Friday on WOIO Channel 19. In many ways, this is the bigger loss. "As the World Turns" started a 20-year reign as daytime's top-rated serial in 1958, and that was a time when soap operas were incredibly popular and profitable. "Even though 'Guiding Light' was older, this unquestionably was the big one," said Michael Logan, the resident soap-opera expert at TV Guide. "More than any another soap opera, this is the one that entered the nation's consciousness in an iconic way." This is the one that was famously spoofed on "The Carol Burnett Show" with skits called "As the Stomach Turns" (a parody suggested by "As the World Turns" star Eileen Fulton). This is the one that set the standard for all soap operas. "It was the show that invented so much of the soap form -- the pregnant pauses, sitting around having coffee while talking about your problems, the big dramatic freeze before a commercial," Logan said. "Even people who didn't know anything about soap operas knew this title. And if you didn't watch it, this seems to be the one your mom or your grandmother watched. " "The Young and the Restless" has been TV's No. 1 soap for 22 seasons, but its viewership is an anemic fraction of what "As the World Turns" was pulling in its heyday. At its peak, and that peak was the 1963-64 season, "As the World Turns" posted a dizzying 15.4 rating (percentage of all TV homes). Last season, "The Young and the Restless" was tops with just a 3.7 rating. And, friends, a 15.4 rating is higher than the one that took "Friends" to No. 1 in the prime-time ranks for the 2001-02 season. It's comparable to the rating that made "American Idol" the most-watched prime-time show of the 2009-10 season. "No question, this was the big hit," said author and TV historian Robert J. Thompson, a professor of communications at Syracuse University. "This was the soap opera. It was the gold standard." Like "Guiding Light," "As the World Turns" was created for CBS by "the mother of soap operas," Irna Phillips. The opening words, "Good morning, dear," were spoken on April 2, 1956, by Helen Wagner. A beloved symbol of the show's durability, Wagner, despite failing health, continued to appear on "As the World Turns" until shortly before her death on May 1. She was 91. Wagner's character, Nancy Hughes, was on-screen when, at 1:40 p.m. on Nov. 22, 1963, the soap opera was interrupted by CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite: "Here is a bulletin from CBS News. In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas. The first reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting." "This was the top season for 'As the World Turns,' " Thompson said. "It has been suggested that one of the reasons word of the assassination spread so quickly was that Cronkite broke into 'As the World Turns.' Millions of housewives were immediately calling their husbands to tell them what was happening." By 1963, Eileen Fulton's scheming Lisa had become one of the most talked-about characters on daytime television. She was credited with keeping Lisa a top-10 name for baby girls from 1963 to 1976. Fulton joined the show in May 1960. Don Hasting was introduced to viewers as Nancy's youngest son, Bob Hughes, five months later. Both remain central players on "As the World Turns." "There is so much history built up with these characters that I expect the ending will be extremely touching," Logan said. "I think there will be some highly emotional resolutions for fans. They'll be tying bows on the package in some cases, but they'll also be leaving behind some good question marks so these characters will live on in the minds of the fans." The cancellation of "As the World Turns" leaves the networks with only six daytime soap operas. There were 19 of them during the 1969-70 season. ABC's "General Hospital," which premiered in 1963, will take over as the longest-running serial. "The loss of these two epic soap operas is a devastating one-two punch to the soap-opera form," Logan said. "But the difference is that when 'Guiding Light' went out, the patient was brain-dead by the time they pulled the plug. 'As the World Turns' still is firing on all cylinders. "They made the decision to go out with all guns blazing. They're really cooking, and they didn't give up when it was canceled. CBS is killing a very different type of show here, and that makes this loss all the more poignant." What has been killing the daytime soap opera? Thompson cites four lethal factors. "First, serialization now is done all over the place, and it's done better on cable dramas," he said. "Second, the reality show has given younger viewers a quicker dose of cliffhanger storytelling. Third, soaps are just too expensive, when it's so much cheaper just to schedule another judge show or another game show. Fourth, and most important, the demographic that the soap opera was invented for -- women at home -- doesn't exist anymore." Still, Logan believes this will be the last major loss for a while: "There now is some stability with the remaining six. The future is far from rosy, but the killing spree seems to be over." Both Logan and Thompson also see some hope for the form being kept alive on the Internet, where dozens of scaled-down serials have appeared. "The daytime form really is amenable to online serialization," Thompson said. "They'll be shorter and have lower budgets, but it could work and should work online." But Thompson also believes this is a time to celebrate, not mourn, the daytime soap opera. "The soap opera is the one form that did what television is uniquely qualified to do, and that is to tell stories that go on forever," Thompson said. "The soap opera, and none more than 'As the World Turns,' showed the power of developing stories and characters, not just over hours and weeks, but decades and generations." And almost all of the acclaimed shows of the last 15 years, from "Sex and the City" and "The Shield" to "The Sopranos" and "Mad Men," have used serialized storytelling. "They owe their aesthetic quality to the soaps," Thompson said. Logan couldn't agree more: "Serialization has become our chosen storytelling form, and we owe that to the soap opera. So really, when you look across the TV landscape, it really is the ultimate success story." Beck Offered To Leave Lily RoleNoelle Beck tells Soaps In Depth that she offered to vacate the role of Lily when her contract expired this past April! “On the day that we got the [cancellation] announcement, I said, ‘I just want you to know if you want to bring Martha [Byrne] back …”When TV Guide Canada notified two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne of Beck’s generous offer, the Gotham creator simply nodded, “I was aware of this offer by Noelle after the show was cancelled. It was a very unselfish act on her part.” Would Byrne have returned? “Of course,” she answers. “I would have gone back for the end — not just for me to say goodbye to Lily but to provide the fans with closure. I think that has always been clear.” The fans were also on Beck’s mind when she made the unselfish offer, too. Beck highlights, “It was her job. She played the role for 20 years. It was sad, because I think a lot of people wanted to see her. I didn’t realize when I took the job how loyal the fans are.” Jon Hensley feels it was a mistake not to bring Martha back. In the World Turns’s special farewell issue published by Soap Opera Weekly/Digest he says, “I will go to my grave thinking it was a mistake. I was as vocal as I could be. It’s unfortunate, because life is short, and those of us who hold onto bygones don’t ever live their life to the fullest. When you make peace with yourself and everybody around you, life is a little better, and I think that was a grave mistake. I was sad, but to this day, I still don’t know what went down between those two and it was obviously pretty heavy for him not to bring her back.” Unfortunately, not having Byrne in the role subtracted some emotional resonance during the show’s finale. Hensley explains, “The day before [our finale], I had all these scenes with Noelle, about the stables and how we met, and it was really difficult because I was sort of channeling Martha all day. It was really just emotional for me and really hard to get through.” Photo GalleryPhoto Gallery: A Farewell to The Cast of 'As The World Turns' (Paley Center)Elizabeth Hubbard InterviewElizabeth Hubbard Interview: Elizabeth Hubbard Looks Back at Her Wild Ride on As the World TurnsFive Things About Twelve's Billy MagnussenFive Things to Know About Twelve's Billy Magnussen: Talk about an audition: Trying out for the role of a disturbed drug addict in Joel Schumacher's gritty new drama, Twelve, Billy Magnussen got into character. Way into character.At the audition, Magnussen licked the casting director's face. "I went in as the character," he says. "I take acting pretty seriously!" Besides Magnussen, 25, who also appears on As The World Turns, Twelve also stars Chace Crawford, 50 Cent, Emma Roberts and Rory Culkin – and, right before its Friday opening, PEOPLE got to know something about the movie's resident bad guy. 1. He Makes Quite a First Impression 2. He Got Ripped for the Role 3. But His Parents Would Have Kicked His Butt 4. He Nearly Missed the Acting Boat 5. Giving It Up for the Soap Fans See The Full ATWT TributeFor those who wished for a more in depth honoring of AS THE WORLD WORLD TURNS at Sunday's Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast — or those who missed what was aired — CBS.Com has put up the full 2 minute, 30 second clip package! Click here to watch! (USA Only)`As the World Turns' stops spinning after 54 yearsYou can view the clip on YouTube: Dr. Bob Hughes lunching with a fellow doctor in a scene aired live on "As the World Turns" the afternoon of Nov. 22, 1963."Shall we get a menu?" Hughes says to his dining companion. "Waiter! I'd like to order. I'm kind of hungry." That scene was the last the TV audience would see of "As the World Turns" that day as CBS News seized the schedule for continuous coverage of President John Kennedy's assassination. The young, dark-headed actor who played Dr. Bob, as well as the rest of the cast, completed the show shielded from both the fact of its pre-emption and the terrible reason why. Only after the episode's final fade-out did they learn of the tragedy, as the actor portraying Dr. Bob, Don Hastings, recalled one day last week. Now 76 and handsomely silver-haired, Hastings was in his dressing room between scenes at the Brooklyn studio the series has called home the past decade. He was still playing Dr. Bob — lately the head of Oakdale Memorial Hospital and, as always, endowed with a perfect bedside manner — just a few months shy of 50 years after landing the part. But Hastings won't get to reach his half-century milestone in October. On Sept. 17, TV's oldest daytime drama (airing weekdays at 2 p.m. EDT until then) will fold. On Wednesday, "ATWT" wrapped production forever. "It's been a job and a home and friendships for 50 years," said Hastings, an avuncular, era-spanning presence as he pondered the series' end. "I don't think it's hit me yet." The summer after CBS' "Guiding Light" was cut down after 72 years on radio and then television, the doomsday scenario that has plagued soaps for decades has now claimed "ATWT." ABC's "General Hospital," which premiered in April 1963, will now inherit the title as TV's oldest soap. But who knows for how long? Used to be, at any given time there were a dozen or more daytime dramas on the networks. Soon there will be only six, with only ABC's "One Life to Live" still originating in New York. The ratings for all of them are a fraction of what they once were, and continue in a downward spiral. "ATWT," ranked last, this season is averaging 2.4 million viewers, whereas in the 1991-92 season, it drew 6.7 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Co. "This show was created in the 1950s, and now there are different viewing patterns, different economic models, and we're all fighting a tough fight to stay in the business," said Chris Goutman, "ATWT" executive producer since 1999. "Daytime has been in trouble for a long time, and we're part of that bigger picture. "But when was the time that I thought we were fighting a losing battle? Never. I always think we're going to win the battle. But this time we didn't." Last December, CBS made it official, a death decree that, paired with the demise of "Guiding Light," marks the exit of Procter & Gamble's production arm from the soap opera business. This, of course, is a company for which the term "soap opera" was coined in the radio era when it began deploying such shows to advertise its detergent and soap products. ("ATWT" took over the studio space where yet another Procter & Gamble soap, "Another World," was taped until NBC canceled it in 1999.) Like many soaps, "ATWT" is set in a bucolic but scandal-beset Midwestern burg — in this case, Oakdale, Ill. Having always centered on two families — the Lowells and the Hugheses — it premiered April 2, 1956, with mild-mannered Nancy Hughes voicing the words, "Good morning, dear." She was played by Helen Wagner, who was among those seen on that fateful episode the day Kennedy died and made occasional appearances as recently as this spring. She passed away in May at 91. Hastings and Eileen Fulton (who joined "ATWT" in May 1960 as the vixenish Lisa Grimaldi) are now the senior cast members. Longevity, of course, is a hallmark of soap operas. Unique in the otherwise mercurial world of TV, the life spans of successful soaps are measured in decades, even generations, not fleeting seaons. Firm bonds are formed by viewers with a soap and its characters, as well as the actors who play them — and keep playing them. "The idea of being tied down for a whole year challenged my sense of an actor as a gypsy," said Kathryn Hays, who in 1972 returned to New York from California to take the role of Kim Hughes. "I came back with two suitcases — one full of clothes, one full of pots and pans," Hays recalled. She never left. (For the last quarter-century, Kim has been married to Dr. Bob.) "It's a different script every day and the life that you're leading in the show moves on, and over a period of years, it's like you're living another life," she said, trying to describe her job's appeal. "But now your character is no longer going to be there," she went on, her eyes welling, her voice choking up. "You've been living that character for almost 40 years. You invest yourself in that character. I know who she is." Her voice dropped to a theatrical whisper. "She's mine." Like Hays, Marnie Schulenburg has come to value the cumulative power of playing a soap character, even after just three years on the show. As Alison Stewart, a perky hospital aide and former crystal-meth addict, the 26-year-old Schulenburg noted that on daytime, "when your character has memories, or you're talking about something she's experienced, you've actually been through it with the character in the past — so these are real memories. It's really cool." Schulenburg is nominated for an acting award at Sunday's Daytime Emmy ceremony — one of 13 nominations snagged by "ATWT." "I feel like Alison is another person," Schulenburg said. "That's what makes me sad: I'm going to miss her." "I think I was in shock for a while," said Terri Colombino, who for 12 years has played the oft-wed, ever-looking-for-love Katie Peretti. The idea of parting company with Katie "feels like a death," she said, wiping her eyes — "which is good that we're having a sad story line at the end, so we can all kind of work through it. It's very cathartic." But it has also been hard to get through, filled with painful reminders that the show will soon be history. Reminders are even here in her dressing room. Colombino pointed to her makeup mirror. Only four of its bulbs were still lit, the other 14 bulbs burned out. "They're not replacing them," she explained with a rueful laugh. "Because we're done." 'As the World Turns' tapes final episode in BrooklynAs the World Turns taped its 13,858th and final episode at its Brooklyn, N.Y. studios today (June 23, 20110), ending its storied run on CBS. Ever since the network announced last December that it would shutter the show, ATWT has attempted to reward its small but loyal fan base with a stream of familiar faces from the show’s 54-year run, including the return of Julianne Moore (who got her start on the show by playing half-sisters Frannie and Sabrina Hughes in the ’80s), Larry Bryggman (John Dixon), Jennifer Landon (Gwen Munson), Jesse Soffer (Will Munson), Cady McClain (Rosanna Cabot), and Mary Beth Evans (Sierra Drake).Since daytime soaps tape several weeks in advance, the final episode of ATWT will air in September. TeleNext Media, the company that has produced the sudser, released this statement today to EW: “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,” said Brian T. Cahill, senior VP and managing director of TeleNext Media Inc. “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. “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.” With 2.51 million viewers, ATWT remains the least watched soap in daytime. The network will likely replace it with a game show, but no decision has been made. World Turns’ bibleMartha Byrne (ex-Lily) shared her rare copy of World Turns’ bible with welovesoaps.net. Check out the rare soap documents here.CBS Cancels 'As the World Turns,' Procter & Gamble's Last Soap OperaProcter & Gamble, the company that invented the soap opera and gave the genre its name, is no longer in the soap opera business.CBS announced on Tuesday that it was canceling “As the World Turns,” the 54-year-old soap that is the last daytime serial owned by Procter & Gamble. The show chronicled generations of characters in fictional Oakdale, Ill., as they survived love and loss, but they couldn’t survive the harsh realities of modern television, where scripted dramas have become too expensive to justify dwindling ratings. The demise of “ATWT,” as it is known to soap fans, means that the two most venerable examples of the genre have been given cancellation notices in the same year. “Guiding Light,” a CBS daytime staple, had been on the air through radio and television for 72 years. CBS informed Procter & Gamble of the cancellation “a couple of days ago,” according to Jeannie Tharrington, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble. “It’s a part of our business that we will miss, and it’ll be hard for us to say goodbye to the show,” Ms. Tharrington said. Proctor & Gamble said it would try to find a new home for the series. Given the current economic climate, though, that is considered unlikely. Soaps typically cost around $50 million a year to produce. CBS replaced “Guiding Light” this fall with “Let’s Make a Deal,” which costs about half that amount, and the network has seen increases in total audience and among the younger viewers that most advertisers seek. “Is it the end of an era?” Leslie Moonves, the chairman of CBS, asked. “Sort of. Only the special soaps are going to survive. It’s certainly the end of the client-owned soap.” He added, “All good things come to an end, whether it’s after 72 years or 54 years or 10 years. It’s a different time and a different business.” “As the World Turns” had the longest-running continuing character in television history — the family matriarch Nancy Hughes, played by Helen Wagner, now 91. Despite the conservative reputation of many Procter & Gamble soaps, the show featured a male couple, Noah and Luke, and the first gay kiss on daytime television. However, its audience, which exceeded six million viewers a week in the 1990s, has drawn less than 2.5 million so far this season, the Nielsen Company said. And the younger adult women viewers, which are favored by most advertisers, had shrunk even more. The decline has been a continuing trend for the daytime genre. One CBS soap, “The Young and the Restless,” has posted slight gains of 3 percent total viewers and 6 percent among women 18 to 49. NBC’s last remaining soap, “Days of Our Lives,” has staged a small comeback this season. It is up 15 percent among total viewers and 10 percent among women 18 to 49. But for the most part soaps these days are watched by older women. Every network soap now has a median viewer age over 50 and only “General Hospital” on ABC is under 53. “As the World Turns” has a median age of 57.8. That is older than most of the network averages in prime time, during which NBC’s programs have a median age of 48, ABC’s programs 51.4 and CBS’s programs 54.1. The subtraction of the two shows means that network television, which once offered soap operas back to back throughout the daytime hours, will be down to only six serial dramas on three networks starting next fall. For Procter & Gamble the loss is symbolic more than financial. The company, which has owned more than 20 soap operas in the past 80 years, now spends more than $7 billion in global advertising each year, making soap operas only a tiny portion of its business. Procter & Gamble said on Tuesday that it wanted to remain in the television production business and that its annual “People’s Choice Awards” will continue each year. “The world has turned,” said Tim Brooks, a television historian and co-author of “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows.” Ratings for soap operas have declined for decades because of “social changes,” he said. “Women are working today,” he said, and fewer people are able to spend time every day watching soap operas. The shows emerged on the radio in the 1930s during the Depression, he said, “and they seem to be ending in an era of economic downturn, too.” As the World Stops Turning After 54 YearsWhat we want to know is, is this the work of CBS or CBS' evil twin?Generations of kids faking sick days and bon bon-eating housewives have gone into mourning, as the network has called time on As the World Turns, canceling the sudsy staple after 54 years. The show premiered in 1956 and helped launch the careers of Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, Julianne Moore, Martin Sheen and James Earl Jones, among others. Its final episode will air next September. "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed," ATWT executive producer Chris Goutman said in a statement. "It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show's loyal audience." About that audience... It just keeps on dwindling. The cancellation of the longest-running soap still being broadcast comes just three months after CBS pulled the plug on Guiding Light (the all-time topper at 72 seasons strong). Just six of the once-mighty genre remain in play, and even that number may not be around for long as daytime soap viewership continues to drop. The rumor mill is rife with speculation that ABC is already picking out plots for One Life to Live. 'As The World Turns' Cancellation A Sign Of TimesIt's the end of an era, and for many soap opera fans, the end of a wonderful world. The long-running daytime drama chronicling the ups and downs of life in the fictional town of Oakdale is pulling up stakes, and experts say the move could mark a trend that sees television soaps adapt to the digital world.The world spun as best it could to keep up with the time, but after 54 years and more than 13,000 episodes during weekday afternoons on CBS, "As The World Turns" will air its final episode in September 2010. "It's like losing an old friend, you know. A lot of viewers have watched these shows for years and years and it's their special time, their guilty pleasure," said Lynn Leahey, Editorial Director of Soap Opera Digest. When the daytime drama of families living in fictitious Oakdale started in 1956, actress Helena Wagner was there and she still is today as are many actors who have played their characters for decades. It also boasts early jobs for box-office film stars like Meg Ryan and Julianne Moore. The "As The World Turns" studio in Brooklyn was closed to reporters Tuesday, but executive producer Chris Goutman said: "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the shows loyal audience." Fans recall how the show was a part of their lives as they grew up. "That reminds me of my childhood. I watched it with my mom when I was a little, little girl and it was like the first soap opera I ever watched with her, so that's really what it brings to my mind," said Montvale, N.J. resident Nancy Bamberger. They may have watched as children, but they stopped watching as adults as more women went to work and soaps' core audience has been dwindling. The CBS soap "Guiding Light" went off the air three months ago. Gone, yet Soap Opera Digest said don't count the genre out. "People are already starting Web soaps, that's just in its infancy. We're gonna see where it goes," said Leahey. "It has to be turned into a business model. I do think there's huge potential there. I think if we can deliver the content where people are instead of expecting them to sit in front of their TVs, there's hope." "As The World Turns" said it is proactively looking for a new outlet to carry the show, but for now, until next September, you can still see it on CBS on weekday afternoons. As the World Turns to End Its 54-Year SpinThe sun won't rise on the citizens of Oakdale, Ill., come 2011 – the soap opera As the World Turns will be end its 54-year-run in September 2010, CBS announced Tuesday.Bowed down by declining ratings among daytime soaps in general, the longrunning series, which is filmed in New York City, will draw the curtains for the final time on Sept. 17. Only three months ago – and almost exactly a year before that, on Sept. 18, 2009 – the 72-year-old soap Guiding Light broadcast its final episode. Many of the castmembers of As the World Turns have gone on to have notable careers in film, including James Earl Jones, Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan and Parker Posey. Final turn slated for 'As the World Turns'CBS cancelled "As the World Turns" Tuesday, putting the company that coined the phrase "soap opera" out of the business of making daytime dramas for the first time in 76 years."As the World Turns" has been on the air since 1956 and televised its 13,661st episode Tuesday. Its last episode will be next September, the network said. It's the second daytime drama CBS has cancelled in a year, after "Guiding Light." Both shows were produced by a subsidiary of Procter&Gamble, the company for which the term "soap opera" was created because it used the shows to hawk products like Ivory soap and Duz laundry detergent. Daytime dramas have been fading as a genre for years, with more women joining the work force and the increased number of channels offering alternatives like news, talk, reality and game shows. In tough economic times, paying casts, producers and writers proved prohibitive to networks when there were cheaper alternatives. The cancellation will leave CBS with only two daytime dramas: "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and Beautiful." Through the years, actors Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey and James Earl Jones have appeared on "As the World Turns." The show follows families in the Illinois town of Oakdale. "It's a hell of a Christmas present," said actress Eileen Fulton, who will mark 50 years playing the character Lisa Grimaldi on the show. Her character has been through nine marriages and Fulton was hoping for a 10th before the signoff. "I'm just very sad," she said. "I'm sad for all of the people who work out there in Brooklyn (where the show is filmed). We're a family. I hate to be split up. It's like a divorce." Brian Cahill, senior vice-president and managing director of the P&G subsidiary TeleNext Media Inc., said the company is actively seeking a new outlet to carry the show. TeleNext said the same thing about "Guiding Light," which went off the air in September, but has been unable to find a new home. Keeping the show alive online has been discussed, but that's an alternative where cost may prove prohibitive. Procter&Gamble first began producing soap operas in 1933 with the radio show "Ma Perkins," and has made a total of 20 such programs in its history. CBS Cancels As the World TurnsMore sad news for soap fans. Three months after CBS snuffed out Guiding Light, it was announced Tuesday that As the World Turns will end its run in September 2010 after 54 years on the air. TeleNext, which produces the show, sent out the following press release:As the World Turns Ends on CBS in September 2010 Show Entertained Fans For Half Century As The World Turns, the long-running daytime drama, will complete its final season on the CBS Television Network in September 2010. CBS has decided not to renew the show for the 2010/2011 broadcast season, thereby ending its 54-year run on the Network. “Throughout our history, As The World Turns has remained dedicated to sharing compelling stories that have entertained fans for more than five decades,” said Executive Producer Chris Goutman. “We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show’s loyal audience.” “As The World Turns has been a cornerstone of our business and a tremendous asset to the company,” said Brian T. Cahill, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TeleNext Media, Inc. “We are proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of ATWT.” The epitome of multi-generational, serial storytelling, As The World Turns has been entertaining generations of fans for more than half a century. The show boasts a well-loved and long-tenured cast, including actress Helen Wagner (Nancy Hughes) who spoke the first words on the premier broadcast of ATWT in 1956. To this day, Nancy is still at the helm of the Hughes family, earning Wagner the distinction of portraying the longest-running character in television history. Other veteran cast members still on the show today include Eileen Fulton (Lisa Grimaldi) and Don Hastings (Dr. Bob Hughes) who each have played their characters for 49 years; Marie Masters (Dr. Susan Stewart) with 41 years; and Kathryn Hays (Kim Hughes) who has starred on the show for 37 years. As The World Turns has tackled many contemporary themes over the years, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s, alcoholism and more, while remaining true to the show’s rich history and realistic characters. In 1988, the serial made history by introducing daytime television's first gay male character, Hank Eliot (played by Brian Starcher), for which it was honored at the first annual GLAAD media awards in 1990. Created by Irna Phillips, As The World Turns premiered on April 2, 1956 as a 30-minute live television show, unprecedented at the time for a soap opera. Top-rated from 1959 to 1971, it was the first daytime serial with its own spin-off, Our Private World, which aired in prime-time. The show switched to color on 1967, and expanded from a half-hour in length to one hour in 1975. Over the years, ATWT has been awarded numerous accolades, including 58 Daytime Emmy awards. Set in the fictional Midwestern town of Oakdale, As The World Turns launched the careers of many now-famous Hollywood celebrities, such as Dana Delany, James Earl Jones, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Meg Ryan, and Marisa Tomei to name a few. UPDATE: CBS has finally acknowledged the cancellation, releasing this statement from Barbara Bloom, the network's senior vice president for daytime programming: "It's extremely difficult to say good-bye to a long-running series that's been close to our hearts for so long. The almanacs will show As the World Turns as a pioneer of the format, a hallmark for quality with its numerous Emmys, the launching pad for many television and film stars and a daytime ratings powerhouse for parts of three decades. But, the true legacy of As the World Turns will be the fictional characters and stories of a small Midwest town that resonated every day with millions of viewers over multiple generations, becoming a treasured daytime institution in the process. We thank our partners at Procter & Gamble for the privilege of hosting this beloved series...the actors, writers, producers and crew who worked so hard and shared their amazing talents to bring this series to life… and, of course, the viewers who shared the journey on our network for so many years." After 54-Year Run, Soap Opera CancelledNot a good year for soap operas. Three months ago CBS cancelled the pioneering soap opera "The Guiding Light."Today the network has cancelled "As The World Turns." The show has been on CBS TV since April 2, 1956. It comes just three months after CBS canceled another pioneering soap opera, "The Guiding Light." "As The World Turns" will have its final broadcast in September, 2010. Chris Goutman, the show's executive producer, said in a statement, “We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show’s loyal audience.” In 2006, TVWeek saluted the 50th Anniversary of "As The World Turns." The following timeline, compiled by Allison J. Waldman, is from that tribute: 1956: ``As The World Turns '' debuts on CBS. ``The Edge of Night'' premieres on the network at the same time. They are the first 30-minute daytime soaps on television. 1956: In her role as Nancy Hughes, Helen Wagner speaks the opening line of ``As The World Turns'': ``Good morning, Chris.'' She will play the part from then on. The actress has been cited in the ``Guinness Book of World Records'' for Longest Time in the Same Television Role. 1958: Just two years after its debut, ``ATWT'' reaches the top of the daytime Nielsens, tied with CBS's ``Search for Tomorrow'' with a 9.8 rating. ``World'' keeps the No. 1 spot for the next 20 years, until ABC's ``All My Children'' surpasses it in 1978. ``ATWT's'' 20-year reign is a record that still stands. 1960: Eileen Fulton is introduced as Lisa Miller, a ``bad girl'' character who's not completely evil. She is daytime's original ``woman you love to hate,'' pre-dating Erica Kane (Susan Lucci on ``All My Children'') by 10 years. 1962: ``ATWT's'' favorite couple is split for good when the love of Penny's (Rosemary Prinz) life, Jeff (Mark Rydell), is killed in a car crash. Fan reaction is tremendous: CBS is swamped with mail, telegrams and calls complaining about Jeff's demise. 1963: CBS interrupts the broadcast of ``As The World Turns'' to announce that President Kennedy has been shot. However, the actors must continue performing because the show is live, not on tape, and cannot be stopped. They are informed about JFK's death when the broadcast ends. 1965: A spinoff from ``ATWT'' called ``Our Private World'' debuts on CBS as a prime-time serial, the first time a daytime show inspired a prime-time show. Ms. Fulton stars as Lisa, the character she created on ``As The World Turns.'' When ``Our Private World'' is canceled after five months, Ms. Fulton returns to ``As The World Turns.'' 1967: The show begins broadcasting in color. 1968: ``As The World Turns'' is spoofed on ``The Carol Burnett Show'' in a sketch called ``As the Stomach Turns.'' It becomes a regular feature on Ms. Burnett's comedy hour. 1970: Eileen Fulton's autobiography, ``How My World Turns,'' is published. 1973: ``World'' changes its musical accompaniment. Instead of organ music, prerecorded orchestral arrangements are used. 1975: ``As The World Turns '' expands to 60 minutes, becoming the first hour-long daytime drama on CBS. Also, the show stops airing live episodes, instead broadcasting a tape of the actors' real-time performance of the soap opera. 1976: ``ATWT'' maintains its dominance as the top soap in the ratings, but Time magazine criticizes the show as being ``bland, euphemistic and reactionary.'' 1980: CBS moves ``World'' to 2 p.m., a spot it still holds today. 1981: Dr. John Dixon (Larry Bryggman) is put on trial for marital rape. 1983: Actors Justin Deas and Margaret Colin get married, just like their on-screen alter egos, Tom and Margo Hughes. 1983: ``As The World Turns'' wins its first two acting awards at the Daytime Emmys: Mr. Bryggman as outstanding actor and Mr. Deas as outstanding supporting actor. 1985: After a 12-year courtship, Bob (Don Hastings) and Kim (Kathryn Hays) get married. Also, a new core family is added to the cast when the Snyders are introduced. 1987: ``ATWT'' wins the Daytime Emmy as outstanding drama series. 1988: Hank Eliot (Brian Starcher) comes out to Iva (Lisa Brown). He's the first male gay character on a daytime soap. 1988: Julianne Moore wins the Daytime Emmy for outstanding ingenue for her role as twins Frannie and Sabrina. 1989: Stories from the early years of ``ATWT'' are converted into novels and published by Pioneer in a series of paperbacks. 1991: ``As The World Turns'' wins its second Daytime Emmy as outstanding drama series. 1993: Show alum Marisa Tomei (Marcy) wins an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in ``My Cousin Vinny.'' 1995: Actress Patricia Bruder is let go after playing Ellen for 35 years. 1995: ``As The World Turns'' broadcasts its 10,000th episode. 1999: When ``Another World'' is canceled by NBC, some characters ``move'' from Bay City to Oakdale, including Jake McKinnon (Tom Eplin) and Cass Winthrop (Stephen Schnetzer). 2000: ``World'' moves its production facilities to JC Studios in Brooklyn, N.Y., where ``Another World'' had been shot for years. 2001: ``ATWT'' wins eight Daytime Emmys, the most for any one show in a single year. Among the honors is the show's third award for outstanding drama series. 2002: Oakdale cop Jack Snyder (Michael Park) is kidnapped, bound and raped by psycho stalker Julia Lindsay (Annie Parisse). 2002: Tamara Tunie (Jessica) joins the cast of ``Law & Order: SVU'' while continuing her long run on ``World.'' 2003: `As The World Turns'' wins its fourth Daytime Emmy as outstanding drama series. 2005: TV Guide names ``ATWT'' the best soap opera of the year. 2006: Podcasts of entire ``As The World Turns'' episodes are made available for download on CBS.com/netcast and iTunes.com. And today we add: 2009: Show is cancelled. Final airing will be in September, 2010. ATWT to Broadcast its Final EpisodeCBS's daytime drama AS THE WORLD TURNS will broadcast its final episode in September 2010. At the time of its final broadcast, the series will have spanned 54 years and more than 13,000 episodes. "It's extremely difficult to say good-bye to a long-running series that's been close to our hearts for so long," said Barbara Bloom, Senior Vice President, Daytime Programming. "The almanacs will show AS THE WORLD TURNS as a pioneer of the format, a hallmark for quality with its numerous Emmy's, the launching pad for many television and film stars and a daytime ratings powerhouse for parts of three decades. But, the true legacy of AS THE WORLD TURNS will be the fictional characters and stories of a small Midwest town that resonated every day with millions of viewers over multiple generations, becoming a treasured daytime institution in the process. We thank our partners at Procter & Gamble for the privilege of hosting this beloved series…the actors, writers, producers and crew who worked so hard and shared their amazing talents to bring this series to life...and, of course, the viewers who shared the journey on our network for so many years."As The World Turns Is CanceledExtremely sad news to report. As The World Turns, which has been broadcasting on CBS since 1956, has been canceled. The last episode will air in September of 2010. "Throughout our history, As The World Turns has remained dedicated to sharing compelling stories that have entertained fans for more than five decades," said Executive Producer Christopher Goutman. "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show's loyal audience." "As The World Turns has been a cornerstone of our business and a tremendous asset to the company," said Brian T. Cahill, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TeleNext Media, Inc (TeleNext is the production company behind ATWT). "We are proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of ATWT." ATWT premiered on April 2, 1956. Helen Wagner, who's character Nancy Hughes spoke the first lines on the show, remains part of the cast to this day.AS THE WORLD TURNS: CanceledIt's a tragic day for soap operas. After nearly 54 years on the air, word comes that ATWT will follow its sister-soap GUIDING LIGHT gently into the good night. "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show's loyal audience," said executive producer Chris Goutman in a statement. The show will last air in September of 2010.Oakdale ConfidentialYou can order the books Oakdale Confidential and "The Man from Oakdale" by Henry Coleman! (Just click the titles)Thank You As The World Turns(This is borrow from our Actor Of The Week section, if you want to read more tributes to various ' World Turns' actors click here!)Soap Operas are not meant to end. Maybe that's why As The World Turns' producers and writers squandered so much time leading up to today and left so little room for the show to conclude in a satisfying way. I loved Bob's voiceover, and the world turning at the end. I loved Luke and Reid's tragic goodbye last week. I loved Holden's very real tears when he reminisced with Lily yesterday. But other than that? Pretty unsatisfactory stuff. It's almost like someone drank the Les Moonves kool-aid and agreed this soap wasn't special. The final stories should have started playing out two or three months ago, not two or three weeks, giving ample time for them to explore the layers and layers of emotion that have in fact, made ATWT one of the most special shows in the history of television. Instead, Lucinda and Barbara quit their jobs to be with their men? When did they stop being two of the most dynamic career women in daytime? When did Lisa become a dayplayer? Why wasn't some dashing scoundrel checking into her hotel, bringing out the vixen in her one last time? Where was Snyder Farm? And specifically, Emma, in her kitchen, fretting over her kids and baking one last pie or batch of cookies? How could Dusty and Janet warrant a happy ending, while Holden and Lily were left in limbo, without even one last kiss? We know they're seeing each other tomorrow. We know they love each other, Lily tried to say it, Holden said he knows, they parted with tears in their eyes, it was actually a great scene, I'm just torn over whether it was enough, since we are never seeing them again. And really, would it have been that hard to cut out all the teens no one cares about for the last week, and give their time over to old clips of people the audience cared about, memories fans wanted to relive, for some reason Another World is the only soap that put great montages at the end, while ATWT couldn't even search through the archives for a scene where Nancy says, "Goodnight, dear," surely one exists somewhere. Okay, enough for the complaints, after all, this show was special, there's more of it to celebrate. The last few weeks I've praised couples and characters that remained on the soap till the end, but there were plenty of other memorable players we haven't seen lately, tops on my list would be the aforementioned Emma Snyder, any scene with her, was for me, the true definition of comfort food. The best triangle ever would not have happened without morally challenged, yet physically gifted, Damian Grimaldi. Some of the best couples in recent years would not have happened without one of the last working class guy's in daytime, Mike Kasnoff. Kirk. Samantha. Aaron. Georgia. Isaac and Bonnie. Camille and the original Brad. Scott Bryce's Craig. Duncan's Scottish brogue. Jessica, sometimes the lone diversity on the canvas, but by no means the reason she was there. There are so many more names I'm sure I missed among your favorites, I wish I had tuned in sooner, seen them all, but the moments I did see will always stay with me, such as Andy's struggle with alcoholism, John and Barbara and Casey and Gwen losing their babies, and Holden and Lily in the bell tower. Somehow I don't think the Chenbot and company will ever deliver anything as memorable or as heartfelt. Holidays will never be the same without Oakdale, The Snyder Farm, and the Hubbard Squash.
Recap: The Last WeeksMonday, August 30, 2010At Chez Hughes, Casey was trying to cook dinner for Alison. Ali went up to his room for his recipe and ended up finding the box with Nancy's engagement ring in it! Casey revealed that Nancy wants him to save it for the "woman of my dreams." He asked Ali to describe said woman. Of course, as they awkwardly made the list, it was clear they were describing Alison. They ended up in a passionate kiss, and Casey asked Ali to marry him. Ali still had doubts, given what she'd done with Mick. She listed her past sins (including burning down Emma's barn), wondering what had made Casey want to forgive her. Casey recited his own laundry list of woes, saying they'd both learned from their mistakes. The duo kissed sweetly, and before Casey slid the ring on her finger, he told her that he had an offer to transfer to Southern Illinois University. He had to move to Carbondale, and would understand if Ali didn't want to go. Of course Ali would go! She then told Casey that she eventually wants to go to medical school like her mom. Casey was about to officially put the ring on Ali's finger when Chris called about a family meeting. They figured it'd be the perfect time to announce their engagement.At the Lakeview, Kim marveled at how John Dixon and Bob could just pick up arguing like no time had passed. When Bob noted he'd had practice with Reid, John revealed it was Reid who had called him to consult on a case. When Bob asked who the patient was, Reid walked up, alarmed. At Katie's, Chris rocked her with the truth of his heart impairment, revealing he'd been sick for quite a while. A teary Katie demanded he fight this and beat this. Horrified to realize he hadn't told his family, Katie talked about Brad's death and told Chris not to take time away from his loved ones. Back at the Lakeview, Reid tried to whisk John away, but Kim stepped in, wanting to talk to John about Andy. Alone, Bob wanted to know what Reid was up to and demanded the identity of the patient. Reid covered, escorted John out and called Chris to meet them at the hospital. Katie sent Chris off with a kiss, and then broke down. Bob and Kim were mighty suspicious about John and Reid, and Bob resolved to get to the bottom of this. At the hospital, Reid explained the constraints he'd been working under to a mystified John. On cue, Chris walked up. Reid left Chris to explain everything to John. When Reid got home, he told Katie he knew about Chris. Katie went off, pounding on Reid's chest and weeping. Reid talked about how much he'd grown to care for Katie and Jacob, and gently tried to explain the extent of Chris' illness. Katie begged him to come back to the hospital with her. At the Lakeview, Lisa cornered Kim and Bob, demanding to know if John had indeed checked in. At Memorial, John blasted Chris for his irresponsibility, reunited with Katie and then looked over Chris' MRI results. John would start the first treatment option as soon as Chris and Katie told their family what was going on. Chris called Bob and asked the whole family to meet him and Katie at Tom and Margo's. Lisa and Kim automatically assumed Chris and Katie were announcing an engagement. After Chris and Katie left Memorial, Reid asked John for his real assessment. John told Reid that Chris would likely need a heart transplant, and he'd get the ball rolling immediately. At Tom and Margo's, Lisa and Kim told Casey and Ali their Chris/Katie engagement theory. Casey and Ali realized they couldn't steal his uncle's thunder, but definitely wanted to tell Nancy privately. Chris and Katie arrived, and they all realized that Bob was taking forever to come back with Nancy. An ashen Bob then arrived, and told them, "Mom's gone." Tuesday, August 31, 2010Alison admired the photo collage Casey had made in memory of Nancy and reminded Casey that today wasn't about them and their engagement. At Tom's office, an hour after Nancy's private funeral, Tom went over Nancy's will. Kim wanted more than a distribution of Nancy's belongings and money, she wanted another way to honor Nancy's 91 years. Margo comforted an angry Tom, who then remembered Nancy losing Dan. At Katie's, Chris told her he couldn't tell his family about his condition when they were dealing with Nancy's death. Casey and Alison left Chez Hughes to put a plan into motion, leaving Lucinda alone in the house. At a shut down Fashions, Barbara left a voicemail for Lisa, who was inside feeling very sad and alone. Back at Katie's, she comforted Chris with stories about her friendship with Nancyand flashed back to Nancy giving her advice. Chris said he'd be that friend for her now. But what if she lost him, too? Katie ended up weeping in Chris' arms about not being able to handle all the loss, and then Chris asked Katie to help him be strong.At Tom and Margo's, Susan, Barbara and Lucinda fondly remembered "the bus ride from Hell," with a hilarious flashback. Casey and Ali showed up at Fashions, asking Lisa what they could do to remember Nancy. Lisa talked about Nancy's loving spirit and how she preferred taking action. It gave Casey an idea! Tom, Margo, Bob and Kim all came home, and Bob remembered a Christmas celebration from the black and white era. When Chris and Katie walked in, Kim urged them to finish what they'd started yesterday and give them some good news. Lucky for Chris, Casey, Alison and Lisa all returned with their idea: to spend the day helping people like Nancy would have! Then, John came in, assuming the gathering was about Chris' bad news. As he and Bob talked circles around each other, Chris interrupted, pointedly letting John know that Nancy had passed away. John quickly gave Bob and Kim his condolences and caught up with Lucinda. Then, everyone split off to do volunteer work. Bob and Kim let Chris and Katie into Nancy's to go through Nancy's stuff. Elsewhere, Tom and Margo funded a scholarship in Nancy's name at the school she once taught at. They remembered Kira (Lauryn Hill), whom Nancy taught to read with rap lyrics! At the hospital, Bob and Kim decided to start a mini-library. As for Lisa, Susan and Barbara, Lisa sat the gals down at the Lakeview and ordered two regular pink ladies and one virgin cocktail. She related her wishes for her own send-off and remembered an early moment with her mother-in-law. They resolved to donate money in Nancy's name and toasted their drinks. At Yo's, after recruiting John to volunteer at Luke's foundation, Lucinda updated him on her rift with Lily. John related a story from Lisa about when Lisa and little Tom were living with Bob in Nancy's house. He used the anecdote to encourage Lucinda to swallow her pride and reach out to Lily. In Old Town, Casey was invigorated by all the helping out he'd done, and Alison told him that she has no more doubts. Casey remembered Nancy urging him to keep the engagement ring. Buoyed, he finally put the ring on Alison's finger. At Nancy's house, Katie and Chris went through a box of her things, unearthing all kinds of treasures. As they looked through a photo album, a bunch of classic Nancy clips played, including Chris and Nancy's 50th anniversary. "Our" Chris believed that, some day, that would be him and Katie. "No regrets," she smiled, kissing him. Later, everyone converged in Old Town with lit candles and Bob recited Nancy's Thanksgiving prayer...which faded into a voiceover of Nancy speaking the same words. Katie let herself into Nancy's, remembering Nancy giving her advice about Brad. "Help me!" she begged her lost friend, sobbing on Nancy's couch about how she couldn't do this again. Wednesday, September 01, 2010At Java, Reid asked after Noah's eyesight and offered him the name of an LA doctor...resulting in Noah taking a swipe at him for "stealing my boyfriend," just as Luke walked in. Noah continued to be snarky about bequeathing Luke to Reid and sauntered out. Luke told Reid he had to go after Noah, and Reid understood. They agreed to meet up later. Luke found Noah outside, and didn't want him to leave for LA like this. Noah revealed that the big source of his 'tude was having to go to LA alone, without Luke by his side. "I'm still in love with you!" he said. Luke said he loved Noah and would always love him, but, "I'm in love with Reid." Noah insisted Reid wasn't right for him. They went over the accident/breakup again, and Luke told him they weren't right for each other. But he and Reid were! Luke said they'd always be connected, but not romantically; they could still be friends. "No, I can't," Noah said, walking away. Later, Luke came to Katie's looking for Reid. As he and Katie talked, she realized he knew about Chris. She admitted she's scared and Luke held her. She blurted out that she loves Chris. Luke was confident that Reid wouldn't let anything happen to him and dubbed Katie "tough." He told her she couldn't let her fear pull her away from the person she loved and offered to take her to Memorial. There, Katie realized the reality of Chris' condition was now out in the open. Reid advised Katie not to go into Chris' room if she was going to freak out and, rattled, she bolted. Luke marveled at Reid's take on things.In Old Town, John accused Chris of being in denial about his health, and when Chris had chest pains he hauled him to the hospital. At Nancy's apartment, Katie sorted through classic photos and wondered how Nancy had survived so much loss. Margo walked in, and Katie took comfort in her hug. When Margo raved about Chris and Katie's future, Katie had to fight back tears. And then she gaped at Margo assuming she and Chris had been about to announce their engagement. When Tom interrupted, Katie made a hasty exit...and Margo realized something more than Nancy's death had to be wrong. At Bob's office, he and Kim were reminiscing when he realized he had a golf game with a trustee. Kim suggested he send Chris in his place. Chris stumbled into the staff room, where his parents were hanging out, and covered for his condition. Bob and Kim asked him about the golf game. When they mentioned how Nancy had high hopes for Chris, he agreed to play a few holes. John was incensed to realize Chris was gone, and vented to Reid. Reid then extended his condolences about Nancy to Bob and Kim, who told him Chris is playing golf. John went to Tom and Margo's looking for Chris and Katie, and they demanded he 'fess up. He couldn't, but asked them to come with him. Out and about, Chris was shmoozing the trustee and Reid caught up with them, offering a "threesome." He was determined to keep an eye on Chris, despite his complete lack of golf prowess. At Java, Bob opened up to Kim about how he'd found Nancy dead in her favorite chair, and they talked about how extraordinary Nancy was. Out on the links, Reid accused the trustee of cheating and got the game cut short. As John, Margo, Tom, Bob and Kim all converged at the hospital, Reid brought Chris in. John had Chris taken into a room, and asked everyone to let him do his job. Chris then had to break the news to his family. Thursday, September 02, 2010At Memorial, Chris explained his condition to a shocked Bob, Kim, Tom and Margo, and then John told Bob how serious the prognosis was. As for Katie, she was at WOAK watching footage of her and Chris. Luke followed Reid to Java, wondering why he'd been so heartless about Katie being at the hospital. Reid was trying to spare her the pain. Luke accused Reid of "projecting," because he's the one who runs away "when things get too sensitive." As he diagnosed Reid's issues, Luke admitted that he's in love with him. "Hold the phone!" Reid exclaimed, asking him to repeat himself. Back at the hospital, Tom and Margo wanted to get Chris' name higher up on the transplant list. He didn't want preferential treatment. Nearby, Bob promised Kim that he and John would do their best to make sure Chris lived. In Old Town, Luke confirmed to Reid that he'd told Noah he's in love with Reid. But he was still mad at Reid for his attitude. As Luke playfully noted Reid could tell him he loves him, too, Reid pointed out that Luke would just think he's trying to defuse Luke's anger. They went back to talking about Katie, and Luke stressed that she needs to be by Chris' side, because it would be devastating if he died without her there.After a talk with John, Tom and Margo left for Springfield to look into Chris' transplant options. Meanwhile, Kim caught up with Katie at WOAK and wondered why she wasn't at the hospital with all of them. As they discussed Katie's feelings for Chris, a heartbroken Kim admitted how terrified she is, and talked about how she doesn't have time for Katie's fear. Kim asked her if she could "bear this pain without turning away." In Chris' room, Luke urged him not to keep Katie at a distance right now. Across the hall, Reid and John clashed about Chris' treatment. After John slammed out, Bob called Reid out on keeping Chris' condition from him. Reid pointed out doctor/patient confidentiality and said he'd urged Chris to tell Bob himself. "I made the best decisions that I could, given the circumstances," he explained, telling Bob to take up the issue with Chris. Bob did just that. At Katie's, she wept over a picture of her and Brad. Back at Memorial, Kim lashed out at Reid for taking advantage of Chris' illness, and Bob told her how Reid has been helping Chris all along. She tearfully apologized. John ran into Luke in Old Town and asked him about Reid, given the battle ahead of Chris. Luke assured him that, when it comes to his job, Reid would give him everything he needs. Back at Katie's, Reid admitted he's an idiot about romance, but told Katie it's stupid to avoid love because it scares you: "Dry your eyes, blow your nose, get your butt back to the hospital where you belong!" Reid admitted Luke had caused his philosophical turnaround, and Katie thanked him for his support. At Memorial, Bob confessed to Kim that he's "ready to scream." Then, Tom called Bob with news of a potential heart donor at Bay City General. Bob and Kim stood in Chris' hospital room, worried. Reid watched them from the hall, and then told Luke about his and Katie's change of hearts. They "Dr. Oliver" and "Mr. Snyder"-ed each other, grinning. Meanwhile, Katie visited Brad's grave and told him she'd fallen in love with Chris. She begged for his help. Back at the hospital, Chris began to code! Friday, September 03, 2010At Al's, Ali and Casey talked about their wedding plans. Casey didn't want to elope, reminding her that Nancy had believed in them. Ali didn't want to have a big shindig right after Nancy's death and Casey charmed her by calling her his wife. "That's good enough for me," he said. At Memorial, Henry and Barbara showed up to comfort Kim, who didn't want to leave Chris' room. Barbara guided her to the lounge, and Luke told Henry that Katie wasn't there. At Brad's grave, Katie unloaded her fear and grief, calling herself a coward. "The hell you are!" Henry told her, giving her a pep talk. It worked! Katie went back to the hospital with him. There, Chris came around, and Bob and John told him that he needed a new heart ASAP. John?wanted to hook him up to an LVAD (a left ventricle assist device), and Chris was resistant. He stressed that he also doesn't want to be moved up the transplant list. At loose ends, Luke wandered into Al's and told a clueless Casey and Ali about Chris. They all went back to the hospital. In the lounge, Barbara talked to Kim about Henry and comforted her. Then they joined everyone else in Chris' room, where the docs hoped Kim could talk?sense to her son. Barbara, having lost Jennifer, added her two cents. Then, Katie arrived to blast Chris for his attitude and beg him to fight. As everybody praised her pep talk, Bob got a call from Tom about the heart in Bay City being a perfect tissue match.Reid told Luke, Casey and Ali about the heart. Casey and Ali joined the gang in Chris' room, where Kim and Bob were determined to enjoy the miracle. Bob asked Ali to scrub in on the surgery and then Casey told his grandparents they were engaged. In the lounge, Barbara hugged Henry for his part in getting Katie to the hospital. Reid and Luke then noticed John having an intense conversation. John was forced to tell the Hugheses that a Bay City cardiologist wanted the heart for his own patient. The news rocked everyone, and Barbara followed Katie to the lounge, talking about how she'd survived her ordeal in the warehouse because she knew how much she was loved. She urged Katie to be equally "relentless" about Chris. Chris agreed to accept the LVAD and, after sharing a moment with Bob, asked to see Reid. They traded some good-natured barbs, and Chris asked Reid to take care of Katie. Reid left Katie to cuddle Reid, watched Barbara and Henry and Casey and Alison and Bob and Kim...and it energized him! He told Luke he's going to Bay City to get that heart for Chris! Luke told him there were too many risks, marveling at how Reid was decrying the arrogant "savior of mankind" doctor who'd stolen Chris' heart. Reid wryly assured Luke he's the same selfish jerk he's always been, and he's earned the right to throw his weight around like this. "I love you," he smiled. "There. I said it." He kissed Luke tenderly before getting in his car and driving away. At Memorial, John told everyone the LVAD procedure was a no-go because Chris was too weak to survive it. When Luke got back inside, Casey and Alison told him that...and he assured them that Reid has a plan! His faith in Reid touched Ali and Casey. Meanwhile, Reid was on the phone with the other surgeon, and he floored it to make it over a railroad crossing...and thenhis car stalled. He was so frazzled, he couldn't get his seatbelt off...and the train sped towards him ominously. Tuesday, September 07, 2010At Memorial, Katie was at Chris's bedside and broke the news to him that they couldn't put the artificial pump in his heart because he's too weak. She begged him to hold on because a heart donor will surface soon. Meanwhile, John told a worried Bob and Kim that Chris only has 24 hours to live with his old heart. Alison urged Luke to inform Bob and Kim that Reid is on his way to Bay City to get the heart for Chris. They were stunned but happy, as was Katie and Chris. They joked about how far Reid has come since he first arrived in Oakdale and laughed about who in Bay City would incur his wrath if they denied him the heart he drove all the way there to retrieve.Tom and Margo were at the police station when they got word that Chris's donor heart is no longer available. Margo then got a call about Reid's accident. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. They rushed to the site of the accident and were overwhelmed by what they saw. Later, they returned to Memorial, where Margo braced herself to tell everyone the news. She tearfully informed Bob that Reid's car stalled on the tracks and he didn't get out of his car before the train hit. Bob was dumbstruck and devastated that there is now no hope for a heart for Chris. Bob then summoned Casey to get Luke out of the ER before the EMTs arrived with Reid, but it was too late. Luke refused to believe that Reid would die, even after Bob explained that his injuries are too severe to be helped. He lashed out at everyone for not being proactive and stormed into Reid's hospital room. He was devastated as he saw the severity of Reid's injuries and begged him to open his eyes. Reid tried to speak as Luke broke down in tears. Luke got Reid's wallet for him and took out his organ donor card. Luke summoned Tom for Reid, who gave Luke his power of attorney and made it clear that he wants Chris to get his heart. "Who knew I had one to give?" Reid managed to joke. Luke pleaded with Reid to hold on and declared his love once again just as Reid flat lined. Tom explained that Reid wants Chris to get his heart. John was concerned about it being the right match and the legality of it all without paperwork. Bob was hopeful that they could make it work and they got moving quickly. Bob then gave his condolences to Luke, who was in shock, and let him say a final good-bye to Reid, who had died. After, Tom presented a grieving Luke with the proper paperwork, which he signed to allow for the transplant. John informed an elated Katie, who told Chris she loves him before he was tested as a match. Bob and Kim, meanwhile, took time to absorb everything that had happened. Kim was overwhelmed with guilt for once questioning Reid's principles and being so cross with him before. Meanwhile, Katie went to tell Luke how amazing Reid is for pulling through for Chris and was eager to thank him in person, unaware that he'd been involved in the accident that allowed Chris to get a heart at all. After Luke told her what happened, she started to sob. Then she followed Bob and Luke's lead and said good-bye to her friend before letting Chris know that Reid is going to save his life. Chris was then wheeled into surgery. Tom, Casey and Margo marveled at Reid's selfless act, called him an inspiration and hoped that his sacrifice wasn't made in vain. Meanwhile, John prepped Chris for heart surgery and the operation got underway. Wednesday, September 08, 2010Lily called Holden to come over and told him about Chris's deteriorating condition and heart transplant last night. Holden was shocked; Lily was especially shaken up about Luke, who was still reeling from Reid's death at Memorial. Lily wanted to go comfort her son but Lucinda arrived, which sent her into a tailspin. She was outraged that Lucinda was trying to butt her way back into their lives and refused to let La Walsh take control. Equally upset that Lily wouldn't let her in, Lucinda stormed out in a huff.At the hospital, Alison urged Luke to go home and get some rest but he refused to go until he knows that Chris made it through the operation. Meanwhile, Chris came to after his surgery. Kim and Bob greeted him in the recovery room, where John deemed that he'll be fine and that everything was a success. Katie also came in and was happy to see Chris, who was eager to thank Reid for getting him a new heart. "Where is that jerk?" he laughed, unaware that Reid had sacrificed his own survival for him. Kim, Bob and John discussed whether to tell Chris what happened and agreed to wait until he was feeling better. Later, Ali happily informed Luke that Chris made it and reminded him how amazing Reid was for giving his heart to someone in need. Ali assured tearful Luke that the moment they took his heart was peaceful and that Reid didn't feel any pain. Margo offered to give Katie a lift home, then caught up with her pop, John, who said he's been well but can't help but think about what he'd do if he was in Bob's position with his own kids. Margo pointed out that her father has been estranged for years and wondered why. She thanked him for helping Chris and Katie, and they agreed to discuss other matters at a later date. At Java, Noah, who was about to leave for L.A., ran into Ali. She broke the news to him about Reid and urged him to support Luke in his grief. Noah wasn't sure he could offer anything to Luke anymore. Luke returned home, where Lily and Holden did their best to console him. Luke was still struggling to comprehend what it meant to have Reid's organs donated to others in need, not just his heart. The hospital called and asked for Luke to track down Reid's next of kin so he can figure out what to do with the body. Luke broke down again, fearful that he doesn't know Reid as well as he thought he did. They met with a funeral director to make arrangements. Luke said Reid has no family and wanted to take care of things himself but the funeral director refused and said that it's a matter of law to contact the next of kin. Luke then went to Memorial to ask Bob and Kim if they knew more about Reid's extended family and was stunned to discover that Chris doesn't even know that Reid's heart is beating inside his body. Luke was overwhelmed when Chris kept asking to see Reid and rushed out. Chris, meanwhile, overheard a board member giving Luke his condolences on his way out. Katie went home and was conflicted about her own feelings. She was grieving her roomie Reid but ecstatic about Chris's survival. She was thankful to have had Reid in her life. "He helped me get my life back," she smiled and refused to pack up Reid's things or forget him. Margo promised her that no one will ever forget Reid or what he did in Oakdale. Katie was determined to keep it together and be strong for both Luke and Chris. John met up with Lucinda at the Lakeview Lounge, where she was drowning her sorrows over Lily with bloody marys. She refused to think she was selfish in what she did to Lily and revealed that she went to the mob. "Oh! Which one?" John ribbed, reminded Lucinda that she's always been a schemer and then got the full story on what went down with Ralph. John called Lucinda pathetic "narcissist crybaby" and told her again to make inroads with her daughter. Holden and Lily went to the police station to investigate Reid's past. They found an old video of Reid with his chess mentor, Angus, who lives in Midwood, Brooklyn. They decided to reach out to Angus for Luke. They found him playing chess in a park but he wanted nothing to do with his "ungrateful big-mouthed nephew." Meanwhile, Luke went to the Snyder Pond to think things over and was surprised to see Noah had followed him there. Thursday, September 09, 2010At the Pond, Noah gave Luke his condolences and tried to be there for his ex. Luke was mad at himself for not knowing Reid better and that he didn't even know his own feelings for him until he told Noah. Noah asked him about any regrets he has about his relationship with Reid. Luke admitted they never got to do the normal date things together and that they never had sex because Luke wanted to wait. Noah was surprised, but tried to make Luke feel better by calling Reid a hero for what he did. Luke lost it and said that if Reid was a real hero, he wouldn't have died. Noah hugged him and consoled him. Noah said he'd take a later plane to L.A. so he could be there for Luke.John barged into Worldwide where he found Lucinda distracting herself with work and the usual scheming. John blasted her for not trying to change her ways. Lucinda realized she's crossed the line one too many times with Lily, who has disowned her. La Walsh explained that she's just protecting herself from the power her daughter has in the company by making a preemptive business deal to oust Lily. John was shocked. "Classic Lucinda Walsh," he scoffed. Lucinda countered by telling him to stop sticking his nose in her business. John tried to extend an olive branch, but La Walsh called him out on not being there for her, even during her cancer and said they can't be friends. He apologized and realized he was in the wrong, but still encouraged her to stay away from Lily, if that's what Lily wants. Finally, Lucinda came around. John asked if he should reach out to Lily for her, but she declined. They shared a sweet moment as John said he knows Lucinda better than anyone else. Holden and Lily broke the news to Angus that Reid was killed. He was upset but wondered why they came to him. So, they explained the situation (including that Reid was gay) and asked him to help Luke. He was hesitant but finally signed the paperwork. Then Angus showed them one of Reid's old chess pieces. He got choked up as he recalled the time he shared with his nephew in his younger days. At Memorial, Chris demanded to know whose heart he has but Katie refused to tell him. After he pleaded one more time, she finally spilled the truth. "You have Reid's heart," she sighed. He was flabbergasted as Katie told him everything that had happened. Chris blamed himself for Reid's death. "He's the one who was trying to save my life!" he pointed out. He was overwhelmed with guilt and struck by the irony of it all. He was upset at the thought of living the rest of his life with Reid's heart in his body and was about to give up until Katie demanded that he "suck it up" and be grateful for the miracle that was given to him. He finally came around and looked forward to spending his future with Katie. John dropped by Margo's to say he's staying in Oakdale for a while and resolved to make inroads with his own daughter. Lucinda dropped off a bouquet of flowers for Lily. Holden and Lily returned to Oakdale, where Luke scattered Reid's ashes at the Pond and gave a touching tribute to his lost love. Bob told Chris that the new hospital wing has been named in Reid's honor. Chris was pleased and also found out he'd be the new Chief of Staff after Bob retired. He lovingly glanced at Katie from afar as he smiled and said, "What can I say? I lead a charmed life." Monday, September 13, 2010Jack and Carly woke up in bed together, affectionate. Downstairs, Parker stopped Sage from bringing their parents breakfast in bed and spinning her fantasies of remarriage. He didn't want Mom and Dad to get married again, as "that's when all the trouble starts." Sage set out Jack and Carly's old wedding album as they came downstairs. "That's Sage...not very subtle, is she?" chuckled Carly. "Maybe she's on to something?" countered Jack. As Carly sputtered about getting their daughter's hopes up, Jack said he's incomplete without her. Wary Carly noted they'd gone down this road so many times before. What if they were setting themselves up to fail? Jack told her that the first time he'd kissed her, he'd known she was his future. They had to stop questioning it. "We can't afford to quit," he told her. When Carly finally came around to his line of thinking, she wondered exactly what he wanted to make "official." He was about to get down on one knee...when Janet called to tell him she and Dusty were at the hospital. When they got back from Memorial, Carly wanted to pick up where they left off, but Jack was wary. He worried about what the new baby would do to their dynamic. Cue Carly's turn to give a pep talk! She assured Jack she'd love the baby but it would be difficult for her...and they'd face and conquer whatever life would throw at them. They traded "I love you"s and Jack pulled Carly into his lap and proposed! Carly tearily accepted and they kissed. When the kids got home, Carly and Jack swore that, this time, they'd be together forever. They impulsively decided to get married ASAP!At the farm, Liberty snapped at Faith, who realized Libby got into FIT in New York, like she'd always dreamed. Libby said she wasn't going! Parker walked in, and Faith informed him Libby was about to "ruin her life." At the Lakeview, Janet brought Dusty a bunch of food and an offer to nurse him back to health. They chowed down, sitting in bed. Feeling better, Dusty wanted to get his swerve on. Janet nixed that, and then felt a contraction! Meanwhile, Liberty explained to Parker why she was deferring college, and Parker admitted he's not going either. He whispered his secret plans to her. Faith spied them through the Al's window. At Memorial, Dusty hugged John (who he'd apparently kept in touch with!) and introduced him to Janet. Alone, John noted that Dusty had neglected to tell him Janet was expecting his child. "Yes and no," hedged Dusty. In the exam room, the ob/gyn dubbed the contractions Braxton-Hicks and noted Janet's baby was huge. If he got any bigger, they'd have to induce! When Jack and Carly showed up, Janet apologized for the false alarm. As for Dusty, his spidey senses were tingling. They got back to the farm, and a squirrelly-acting Dusty told Janet that he was off to lunch with John. Faith then told Janet that Liberty got into FIT but wanted to stay in town to help her mom. When Libby and Parker got home, Janet gave her a talking-to, urging her to go to New York. Then, Liberty and Parker accused Faith of telling Janet about FIT to eliminate her perceived competition for Parker. At Java, Dusty showed John the sonogram photo, revealing that he thinks the baby is his. Surrogate father and son shook hands. Left alone, John nabbed Dusty's coffee mug to run a DNA test on it! Back at the farm, Janet told Dusty about Liberty's conundrum and they felt the baby kick. Tuesday, September 14, 2010Gwen brought Carly breakfast in bed, and she had one more wedding day surprise: Rosanna! The sisters exchanged gleeful hugs, and Gwen left Ro and Carly to catch up. At the farm, Jack thanked Dusty for donating champagne for the impromptu ceremony. Janet shooed Dusty off to change and then Janet and Jack had a bittersweet talk, where Janet wished Jack and Carly happiness. Then, Jack urged the baby to stay inside for another two weeks, till he's back from his honeymoon, and asked Janet to get the getaway cabin's info just in case! At the Lakeview, Craig ran into Lily and wondered when she'd forgive him. "I'm not interested in your apologies," she shrugged, before telling him not to show up to the Carjack wedding. In Old Town, Holden ran into Molly. Awkward! They chuckled over being the best man and maid of honor, as Lily watched from afar. She stopped lurking and walked up to ask about California and Abigail. When Lily told Holden the kids wanted them to go to the wedding together, Molly was the odd woman out. In Milltown, Will calmed Parker's nerves about the wedding and then Faith came y with flowers. As Will looked on, Faith and Parker argued about Liberty and Parker blew her off. Later, Carly asked Gwen and Rosanna to be her bridesmaids and Janet came by with a gift and her well wishes. Janet then got the cabin info and Carly stressed that Janet shouldn't call unless it's a real emergency. "This day was starting off so well," Carly then cracked to her sisters. In need of some alone time, she got her and Jack's compass out of a drawer and went for a walk.Janet came in to Dusty's Lakeview suite, venting about the cabin snafu with Carly. Dusty found the reality of Janet having to put up with Carly for the foreseeable future pretty amusing. Janet had an idea she needed his help for. Back at the farm, Parker was all suited up and he was about to bring up his big secret issue with Jack when Jack got called away to pick up Sage. Parker ended up telling Will and swearing him to secrecy! Jack brought Sage home to the Milltown house, and a worried Gwen and Ro told Jack that Carly was off by herself somewhere. Out at the pond, Carly remembered Jack giving her the compass at the boathouse, and then she dropped the compass in the water! Gasp! "I lost the compass," she told Jack, when he walked up. He felt around for it, but it was gone! Carly began weeping about how she needed it to find her true north. He said she didn't need it. He'd never leave her side again; she was already home! Elsewhere, Rosanna ran into Gabriel and Holden and Lily convinced a sullen Faith into going to the wedding. At Java, Craig asked Gabriel if they could try to get to know each other better. Gabe turned down a lunch invite, saying he had the wedding to attend. Back at the pond, Jack shored Carly up and kissed her, sweetly. Elsewhere, Janet and Dusty had taken it upon themselves to decorate the honeymoon cabin. Dusty made Janet get off a ladder...only to get a cramp and fall off it himself. Moments later, Janet went into labor. Jack brought Carly to the farm, where her bridal party had enterprisingly thought to bring her dress. They also each gave her a flower to carry down the aisle. Then, Lily showed up with a wedding/"I'm sorry about Craig" gift. Out at the garden where the wedding would take place, a suited up Jack met up with Will, Holden and Parker. The guys bantered so adorably, it had to be partially ad-libbed! Then, the women showed up. Carly took Jack's breath away. As for Rosanna, she saw Craig lurking and confronted him. "You lookfantastic!" he tried to evade, but she wasn't having it. He said he just wanted closure and promised to be on his best behavior. Nearby, Gabriel and Liberty showed up and Parker and Faith were still at odds. Jack again calmed Carly's nerves and Ro warned them that Craig had shown up. "Nothing is going to spoil this wedding!" Carly insisted. Wednesday, September 15, 2010At Carly and Jack's wedding, Holden and Rosanna got the lovey duo to quit canoodling and Rosanna instructed the bridal party on how to march in. Carly also made sure they were taking video for JJ. Party crasher Craig sat down next to Margo, earning her trademark sisterly snark. Then, the bridesmaids all came down the makeshift aisle and Liberty tried calling Janet, to no avail. At the honeymoon cottage, Janet was in labor, and Dusty tried to help her through it. Parker walked his mom to Jack and asked Jack to "take good care of her." The priest did his thing, complete with the "speak now or forever hold your peace." Don't worry, no one spoke! Carly was so eager to wed that she blurted out a "yes!" before the priest was even done with the vows. Jack made his own vows, saying, "She's mine and I'm hers, and that's that." After Molly did a reading, Carly spoke to Jack from the heart, telling him he was her true north, her soulmate and her best friend. Jack talked about how Carly had "saved me from me" after Brad's shooting and "fought my demons." There was much sniffling and crying. They exchanged rings and "I thee wed"s and were then pronounced husband and wife. Cue the kiss! Afterwards, Holden gave the best man's toast, noting that they were missing two very important people: Hal and Brad. On behalf of them, he wished Carjack "lifelong happiness." After Margo and Tom gave Jack their well wishes, with passing mention of Katie and Chris' condition, Molly gave her toast, noting, "you can't fight destiny, so why try." (She looked pointedly at Lily.) Carly reveled in having her "girls" for "backup." But where were Dusty and Janet? Still laboring! Dusty tried to go for help but the car was stuck in the mud.Back at the wedding, Craig proposed a toast, much to everyone's chagrin. He surprised them all by admitting, "you belong together" and wishing them every happiness. When Rosanna wondered what brought that on, Criag said she did - he wanted her to like him again. Jack and Carly then had a first dance (offscreen!) and Faith urged Holden to ask Lily to dance. Sadly, Parker was still giving Faith the brush off. Nearby, Gabriel told Craig he was going back to Montega and Rosanna realized Gabriel is Craig's son. Then, Parker's secret plans came up again, and Margo urged him to just tell everyone he wants to be a cop. His parents were boggled and moved in turns. Parker explained that he hoped to end up just like Jack. "That's a sneaky way to win an argument!" Jack choked out, hugging his son. Afterwards, Holden asked Molly to dance and they had a nice moment and Rosanna counseled Craig about Gabriel. Then, Carly and Jack reassured Sage that it's "for real this time," and Carly threw her bouquet. Rosanna caught it! Carly and Jack drove off for the honeymoon to cheers and applause. At the cabin, Janet yelled at Dusty, who urged her not to push. Jack was about to carry Carly over the threshold, when they realized what was going on inside. Back at the garden, Will and Gwen accidentally spilled to Margo and Tom that Casey was moving to Carbondale. At the farm, Molly and Lily thanked each other for their mutual generosity today and Molly wished Lily and Holden luck. Will and Gwen noted how cute Faith and Parker were, and Parker bid his big brother farewell. He then went back to Faith, apologizing for keeping his plans from her. When she hoped they were friends again, Parker told his "friend" she looked hot in that dress and kissed her cheek. A few feet away, Gabriel and Craig made amends and Ro revealed she's staying in town for a while. At the honeymoon cabin, Janet was about to give birth ASAP, and Carly got a little queasy. Thursday, September 16, 2010Janet wailed as her labor progressed. Jack, watching over Carly's wooziness, told Dusty he'd have to deliver the baby. Having done this before, Dusty played midwife with aplomb. They all welcomed the cute little boy with equal parts happiness and bittersweetness. The foursome headed for the hospital, with Carly bidding the honeymoon cottage a wistful adieu. At Memorial, Dusty stubbornly refused to get his ribs looked at, and Jack went looking for Carly. As Carly and Jack passed back through the main hallway, they overheard John telling Dusty the big news: "Jack Snyder is not the father of that baby, you are!" "Are you sure?" he boggled. John assured him that it's true and he's an "unofficial grandfather." Jack walked up on the celebration. As Dusty beamed, Jack graciously told him to tell Janet. John noted it had been a "long time" since he'd seen Carly, and winked that she'd ended up with the right guy. Then, Carly went to get checked out. In Janet's room, Dusty told her the news and she was thrilled. Meanwhile, Grandpa John bounced into the Lakeview lounge, ordering up drinks for a toast, and urged Lucinda to "declare victory" and come away with him. He said he had a teaching gig in Amsterdam and they could go enjoy tulips and wooden shoes. Back at Memorial, Liberty and Jack had a sweet moment and Libby brought him in to see Janet. The exes had an emotional moment alone, acknowledging the 9 months they'd spent being prospective parents. "Thank you for loving me, Jack," wept Janet. Teary Jack apologized for not doing right by her, and congratulated her. Later, Janet, Teri, Libby, the baby and Dusty all bonded as a family...and Carly had news for Jack!At Java, Lucinda offered to create an endowment in Reid's name, and Luke liked the idea. Big Lucy's rather cynical, defeatist attitude had Luke wondering what his grandmother had done now. At the Lilypad, Holden and Lily talked about the wedding and Molly and then flirted a little. John interrupted the moment to persuade Lily to forgive her mother. John noted Lily was younger and less set in her ways. Since he got a text from the hospital, he asked "sensible" Holden to help fix things. Alone, Holden told Lily, "John's full of it," and said he was proud of Lily for sticking to her guns. Back at Java, Luke talked about how life was short and sent Lucinda off to make things right with Lily. Noah walked up on the tail end, and Luke filled him in. Then, a sad Luke talked about how calm Reid had been in death, and Noah comforted him. Noah revealed he's putting off heading to LA. Luke wondered why. To take care of him? It wasn't necessary! Luke quit Noah's job for him and dragged him out the door. After Holden's pep talk, Lily called her mother to meet up with her. Lily and Holden were a united front and about to kiss, when a beaming Lucinda walked in. Sadly, Lily dashed Big Lucy's hopes of reconciliation. She loved her mom but couldn't forgive her yet. Lily and Holden both told Lucinda "goodbye." At WOAK, Luke gave Noah a state of the art video camera, revealing his family had also bought Noah a bunch of recording equipment. Noah had to get on that plane! Noah agreed, as long as Luke came and visited him. They reminisced about meeting at the studio; Noah brought up sharing their first kiss there. Noah assured Luke he understands that Luke needs to honor what he had with Reid and "grieve and heal." But maybe when Luke was ready, he could come to LA? Noah kissed Luke goodbye and left. At the Lilypad, Holden and Lily remembered the day they met (with a lot of tears from Holden), and they kissed passionately! Meanwhile, Lucinda sought out John and accepted his offer to run off to Amsterdam. At the hospital, as Dusty, the baby and Janet all had a moment of bonding, Carly told Jack she's pregnant! He swept her into his arms and they kissed. Friday, September 17, 2010The very last episode of ATWT opened a month after yesterday, with Bob's wistful voiceover talking about starting the day at the hospital. Bob made his way to his office and talked about learning a lot about the people of Oakdale. Across town, Holden picked up Ethan from Lily and took him fishing. Dusty brought Lorenzo to Janet, and Carly and Jack snuggled in each other's arms...until Sage called for her mom, that is! Elsewhere, Barbara and Henry got passionate, Paul cuddled with a giant stuffed puppy — and Emily — as Eliza played, and John and Lucinda came back from Amsterdam and checked into the Lakeview. Lisa was shocked to learn who John's souvenir "tulip" was. At Chez Hughes, Alison arrived to wake up Casey, and Tom and Margo wistfully realized they were soon to be empty nesters. At the Lilypad, Luke looked at a brochure for Reid's neurological wing and hugged Natalie. At Katie's, she tended to Chris with heart medication and kisses. Back at the hospital, Kim came into Bob's office, and he marveled about retiring today.In Milltown, Jack asked after Carly's morning sickness and Sage wondered when she can share the pregnancy news. As Carly cleaned up papers and talked about car problems, she gasped to Jack that they're "normal." Would they become "dull" and "boring"? He assured her they wouldn't. Then, Dusty and Janet showed up at Jack and Carly's to introduce them to little Lorenzo Dustin Donovan...and ask Jack to be his godfather! Carly told them she's pregnant, and Janet noted "things turned out exactly the way they were supposed to." At the Hughes house, Susan and Emily had joined Tom and Margo to see off Ali and Casey. Hugs were exchanged and tears were shed. Emily marveled to Susan about "our little girl" going off, and they went for a "soda" at the Lakeview. Meanwhile, a teary Margo's empty nest wistfulness was in overdrive and Tom took her out. Back at Katie's, Chris proposed and she accepted. They pondered getting a bigger place as Tom and Margo came over. Tom urged Katie to "distract" his weepy wife, so she spilled the engagement news. The sisters impulsively decided to swap houses, as the brothers looked on, bemused. Back at the Lakeview, Henry and Barbara were still canoodling, despite dinner plans at Paul and Emily's. At Fairwinds, Paul and Emily discussed him walking away from the business and making Em and Eliza his priority. Ironically, Barbara arrived with similar news: She was dissolving their BRO partnership! The foursome toasted to the future. Elsewhere, Luke visited Katie's, telling Chris that he had his vote as Chief of Staff. Chris admitted that it might not be the path he wants. Luke was haunted by being where Reid lived. As he went to leave, Katie gave him Reid's stethoscope. Luke asked if he could listen to Reid's heart, and he and Chris shared a poignant moment. John and Lucinda dropped by the Lilypad to tell Lily they were back together and that Lily could have control of WorldWide. At the hospital, Susan said goodbye to Bob and Kim, and Bob took one last box out to the car. Chris and Katie test drove Chez Hughes, as Tom and Margo christened Katie's with some lovin'. Paul and Emily reaffirmed their love at Fairwinds, while we learned Barbara and Henry were taking over Metro. Henry turned up the music in their suite and they got their disco on. Downstairs, a snarky Lisa urged John and Lucinda to "gather ye rosebuds," and the duo made a pact to "have a helluva good time." Back at Lily's, she was worried about her mom and John not working out. Holden noted they were older, wiser and loved each other. "You think that's enough?" Lily mused. Before Holden left, he and Lily shared a long look. Back at the Milltown house, Jack and Carly settled into bed and kissed. Things wound up at the hospital, with Kim kissing Bob for "just a little encouragement." "I don't think there should be goodbyes...just goodnight," she said, before leaving him to wrap up alone. Bob packed up his briefcase, took one look around, and said, "Goodnight," before turning out the light. The globe on his desk lit up and spun...
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