As The World Turns
Remember and Watch: Four Years Ago Today AS THE WORLD TURNS Aired Its Final Episode!
Courtesy/CBS
It’s hard for us to fathom that it has been four years since we saw the town of Oakdale, and the indelible characters and beloved actors who comprised the final cast of the iconic series, As the World Turns.
The CBS soap ended its run on September 17th, 2010 and now four years later, many in the cast have gone on to new roles on other network soaps, some are continuing to perform and finding success in original web series, and still others are hitting the Broadway stage and can be seen in feature films, and Primetime television.
How to wrap-up a 54-year-old soap was going to be one of the hardest things the writing team would have to do. They chose to do it via an “Our Town” type vehicle narrated by long standing cast member, Don Hastings (Dr. Bob Hughes). And as Bob was retiring from his medical practice, others in the community were settling down with their new families, new loves in their lives, or rekindling old ones.
Courtesy/CBS
The two scenes that get us to this day, in this reach for the hankies final, were the final scenes between Holden (Jon Hensley) and Lily (Noelle Beck), where while talking about Lucinda (Elizabeth Hubbard) and John (Larry Bryggman) getting another shot at love, were really talking about themselves.
Jon Hensley gave one of the most touching performances of his soap career in this episode. And although, Luke (Van Hansis) was the one character left romantically alone, after the untimely death of Reid Oliver (Eric Sheffer Stevens), the moment where he listened to Reid’s heart beating inside Chris Hughes’ (Daniel Cosgrove) chest, was another stand-out.
There was a lot to take in on this final episode and you can watch it below with a box of Kleenex handy! And on this day, do you miss ATWT? Share your thoughts below!
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I miss it and many others: AW, E.O.N., S.B., Passions, Peyton Place, DS, OLTL,…too many to list!!!
Remembering the last scene …in Dr.Bob Hughes office, him shutting the light and the “world” globe lit up and “turned”! Boy did I CRY!!!
I bet had Helen Wagner(Nancy) hadnt past away a few months earlier she wouldve been in the last scene…Nancy said the opening line: ‘Good morning, dear,’ to husband Chris Hughes in the very first episode…if Nancy had been in the very last scene im certain she wouldve been shown in bed and smiling lovingly at a framed picture of her late husband Chris on the night stand next to her bed, said ‘Goodnite, dear!’ then turned off the lamp…fade to black!
I, too, shed some tears that day. Beautiful closer.
Still miss it, but miss Guiding Light more.
I LOVED ATWT! I was so sad when it went off the air. But at the same time, after losing AW and GL, I was growing numb to it all. I have said it before and will continue to do so, soap actors are the hardest working actors in the business. They get one shot, rarely two, to get it right and they deliver day in and day out. The ATWT cast were outstanding! When Helen Wagner died, my hope that she would utter the last words, as she did the first, were dashed. However, having Don Hastings say them… Read more »
I SO miss this show!!! I wonder if it was still on, what Jack and Carly would be up to?? Uggh I miss Craig and Rosanna, Dusty and Lucy, I personally loved the Molly/Holden/Lily triangle……I hated when Holden slept with Carly!!!! and poor Luke, hopefully he’s out in LA with Noah!!!!!
I still miss this show,It’s really sad that they would take this off the air only to be replaced by mindless chatter. I can honestly say that I can’t remember the last time I watched afternoon T.V. It was a nice little break in the day to spend time in Oakdale. Thanks for posting the video.
I miss Guiding Light and Another World more than ATWT.
Do I miss ATWT? Gosh, yes! It still saddens me that there are no more daily visits to Oakdale. I still mourn the loss of this legacy daytime drama/broadcast pioneer program. I still harbor a hope that some entity will resurrect ATWT in a back-to-basics 30-minute format but I am sure that will ever remain a pipe dream.
God bless Oakdale and all the actors, technicians, writers, directors, producers and craftsmen who entertained and enlightened us for so long. I, for one, am forever grateful.
It has only been four years– seem like it has been gone longer than that. Perhaps I feel like that since that last couple years of the show was only a shadow of the great soap it once was. I missed it but I miss Another World more– that show went off in 1999, so it has been fifteen years and I see by posts here I am not the only fan who hasn’t forgotten what a wonderful place Bay City was— still have their final show on VCR tape– and still have a working VCR– maybe I will dig… Read more »
This is the one I miss the most.
This one should have been saved. It was the number one show from the 58/59 season through 1978. Only YR has been number one for more years.
Sooooo much history wasted, and its ratings hadn’t tanked for so long that it couldn’t have been reversed, similar to what happened with GH about two years ago.
Such a shame.
AMEN!! I totally agree. Of all the shows (including the ones still on the air!!), ATWT was the one with the most going for it —- tons of history, still anchored by the original family, and with numerous actors who had remained with the show for decades. It really was a shame what happened to ATWT. It was a death by a million “cuts” of bad decisions —- focusing on new characters while treating the core, veterans as nothing but breathing props; failing to recognize the importance of some veteran actors (Larry Bryggman; Martha Byrne) and letting them leave the… Read more »
Barbara, like a lot of folks I started watching with my Grandma when she took care of us growing up. She watched religiously until the late 70’s when she said it got too “sexy”! My favorite years were the mid/late 80’s when Douglas Marland took over writing and refocused the show on the vets. I did like his introduction of the Snyders. It really had become a bit of a mess by the time it ended, but it could have been refocused again with the right writers. I’m nervous about Jean P on YR as well, however, recently just this… Read more »
I grew up watching As The World Turns with my Mom. I really miss it!
I never watched ATWT..
I do feel their was a great heartache when it ended, for its’ fans..
The death of soap is very personal..
Long live the remaining 4 soaps!!
Very dark day. Although I was no fan of nuLily and nuCraig, having Larry Bryggman back those final weeks was spectacular! So many wonderful actors I grew up with: Marie Masters (Susan), Kathryn Hays (Kim), Don Hastings (Bob), and Eileen Fulton (Lisa). The show still had life in it and I thought the crop of younger actors was particularly good (Billy Magnussen, Van Hansis, etc.). Like everyone, I took this show for granted — I assumed it would always be there when I would decide to revisit it, like so many times in the past — but not having it… Read more »
How I miss this show.It brought back so many memories and It made me cry again
As the World Turns ending was devastating. It was truly my favourite soap opera, and still is to this very day. Christmas and Thanksgiving without the Hughes and Snyders is just not right. The coming out story of Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) helped me during a time I was dealing with being outed by my peers, etc. The show, its writers and stars helped me through such a difficult time, and allowed me to escape for an hour of truly magnificent programming. I only wish CBS could’ve given the show another year, or that another network had picked up it.… Read more »
I watched As the World Turns from my childhood. There are many fond memories of watching that show with my aunt , sister , and cousin. As Bob Hope would say ,”Thanks for the Memories”.
I don’t think I realised how much I miss until you posted this
One of my earliest memories was that black and white globe spinning around the television. I actually flew home to watch the final episode with my mother! Such a shame it’s gone.
I miss ATWT the most. Today is 5 years for Guiding Light.
Thank you for posting this! So much of our culture and history were tied to that show. I still cannot believe its not on the air and that this country has settled for these silly talk shows!
Sept 17, 2010 is a date that I remember like a birthday or anniversary. What a sad day for ATWT viewers. I still miss Oakdale and it’s residents . . . when I see past episodes, it brings up so many memories about what was happening at that time in my life and stirs up so many feelings. I wish the cast members the best of luck, but find it difficult to see them in other roles since ATWT. In my mind/heart, they’ll always be their Oakdale characters. If I had one TV wish, it would be to see ATWT… Read more »
I would like to see As The World Turns come back , I miss watching it everyday .
I Also Miss Guiding Light , would like both shows to come back
I miss it and the guilding light wish they would bring them back cant believe they cancled them and left bold and the beautiful on.
It’s a terrible loss for daytime tv to not have atwt and guiding light especially as the work turns Ive watched y&ra as the world turns and guiding light since I was a child
I never had the chance to watch the last episode, (work) I just watched it today and oh how I miss As the world turns, I started watching it when I was young because my mom would have it on…. My favorite daytime show
Funny, the other day I was thinking about being snowed in , wrapped up in a snuggy blanket like I did on snow days in high school, getting caught up on stories I got to see in the summer. I too miss the Christmas and thanksgiving activities on the show. I began watching with Mom, (it was her favorite ) I can r remember Bob marrying Lisa, and Penny and Jeff. So it was like taking friends away.. so sad. Oh well.
Oh, Judy, you could have written this for me. My Mom watched this show from the early sixties to the last episode, and my sister and I watched it when we could, more on than off. I miss the characters, and the people who played them. I hope they are all well. I wish I could thank them all for a story well told. Kim (Kathryn), you are my model of grace and class for my 60’s and beyond.
As The World Turns
As the World Turns Alum Rita Walter Dead at 71
We’re still losing so many beloved soap opera actors as 2022 comes to a close. Now comes word that former As the World Turns alum, Rita Walter (nee McLaughlin) passed away at the age of 71. Walter had been diagnosed with Multifocal Glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive form of terminal brain cancer.
Rita had an 11-year-run as Oakdale’s Carol Deming Hughes Stallings Andropoulos Frazier.
The former actress-turned-optician, died on Christmas. Rita’s brother, David McLaughlin revealed the news on the 26th which also happened to be the anniversary of Walter’s exit from the defunct CBS soap opera in 1981.
In his posting on Facebook, McLaughlin shared: “My sweet, loving sister Rita was called to Jesus today on Christmas day, his birthday. She was a well known actress as well as dedicated server of the Lord Jesus. May you rest in peace Sis, I love you forever. You’ve taken my heart with you.”
Photo: SOD
Before playing good girl, Carol Deming, who always found herself in distress as only a good heroine could do, Rita started her career as Patty Duke’s double on The Patty Duke Show, before getting her first foray into soaps with a role on The Secret Storm as Wendy Phillips.
We clearly remember when on ATWT, Carol was married to Jay Stallings, but Jay was having an affair behind her back. Carol also had failed relationships and marriages to Tom Hughes and Steve Andropolous. Eventually, Carol left Oakdale after falling in love and marrying Reverend Norman Frazier. In a case of life imitating art, Rita married Reverend Normal Walter in 1976.
Walter is survived by her three children, Brian, Jill, and Amy, and her husband, Reverend Norman.
Share your condolences and remembrances for ATWT’s Rita Walter in the comment section below.
As The World Turns
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