As The World Turns

Remember and Watch: Four Years Ago Today AS THE WORLD TURNS Aired Its Final Episode!

September 17, 2014

Courtesy/CBS

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.

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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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jimh(leave it to beaver)

I miss it and many others: AW, E.O.N., S.B., Passions, Peyton Place, DS, OLTL,…too many to list!!!

vinman

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!!!

jimdavis289@yahoo.com

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!

Iakovos

I, too, shed some tears that day. Beautiful closer.

Rob

Still miss it, but miss Guiding Light more.

Rodd

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 was a huge plus. I still remember the Hughes, the Snyders, the Ryans, the Stewarts and Walshes; the whole gang in Oakdale with great fondness and miss them terribly.

I am so happy that so many of them are working to this day in other venues. Best wishes to them all!

richard

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!!!!!

darlene

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.

Mark

I miss Guiding Light and Another World more than ATWT.

Iakovos

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.

Mary SF

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 out that tape this week and watch it since Mr. Fairman has gotten me all nostalgic for my old soaps

PatF

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.

Barbara from Atlanta

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 show with little or no effort to keep them; the few attempts to use the history of the show in plots were incompetent; and uninteresting writing.

I really have a hard time putting a lot of faith into Y&R these days when Jean Passanante, the head writer during ATWT’s dying years, is working on the show. I have a low opinion of her writing talent due to what she gave us on ATWT.

I really miss what ATWT was for decades. Of course, I don’t include its last 5-10 years in that group. Moreover, I miss seeing Eileen Fulton, Don Hastings, Kathryn Hayes, and Elizabeth Hubbard on television. I watched them for years and, with the cancellation, they simply vanished (probably due to retirement). Even a site likes this rarely mentions any of them and gives us no updates. I’m dreading the day that I see a news item that one of them has passed away.

PatF

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 year I’ve noticed a return of some of YR’s trademarks, so I hope that means Angela McD and Margot Wain are watching closely. Too bad no one did that for ATWT…

Pat

I grew up watching As The World Turns with my Mom. I really miss it!

su0000

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!!

RICKIE

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 there still leaves a void. The surviving soaps simply don’t fill it.

Susan

How I miss this show.It brought back so many memories and It made me cry again

Scott (ATWT Fan)

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.

FOX should’ve given both ATWT and Guiding Light second lives; it would’ve given them an edge to becoming a major network. Alas, everything happens for very specific reasons. I’ll always miss Oakdale and the drama of it all.

Belle

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”.

Brett Bradley-Howarth

I don’t think I realised how much I miss until you posted this

Dan

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.

Jonathan

I miss ATWT the most. Today is 5 years for Guiding Light.

Patricio

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 on my screen again. With the holidays coming up, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see one of those iconic holiday shows with the entire cast showing up at the Hughes’ to hear Bob’s blessing?

Tawn Montes

I would like to see As The World Turns come back , I miss watching it everyday .

Tawn Montes

I Also Miss Guiding Light , would like both shows to come back

carol yoss

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.

Brandi

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

Jenn

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

Judy Eaton Colley

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.

Diane Fagan

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

Final Season of ‘EastSiders’ Starring Kit Williamson and Van Hansis Gets Premiere Date on Netflix

November 5, 2019

The fourth and final season of the much heralded LGBTQ series, EastSiders now has a premiere date of December 1st on Netflix, and fans of the show will see how things will play out for the Silver Lake duo of Cal and Thom, who have gone through quite a lot in their relationship over the last three seasons.

EastSiders stars series creator, Kit Williamson (Cal) along with As the World Turns favorite, Van Hansis (Thom). The last six-episodes that comprise season four will tackle questions such as… what does commitment really look like in a long-term relationship? And what unique challenges does a “gay marriage” present?

In story, Cal and Thom are back home in Los Angeles following season three’s cross-country road trip. The guys are still trying to figure out if they are just best friends with benefits, or more, or less, than that.

Elsewhere, Douglas (Willam Belli) and Quincy (Stephen Guarino) are engaged to be married, but with very different ideas about what a gay wedding should be. Hillary (Brianna Brown) and Ian (John Halbach) are cohabiting peacefully; and Jeremy (Matthew McKelligon) and Derrick (Leith M. Burke) have taken a huge step in their relationship by fostering a child.

Deadline broke the news of the premiere date and the many special guest stars from primetime and more to look forward to this season.

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Will you be watching the final season of EastSiders? If you follow the series, how do you hope the relationship between Cal and Thom resolves itself? Do they stay together, or move on from each other once and for all? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

As The World Turns

Emmy Winner and Noted Soap Opera Head Writer; Hogan Sheffer Passes Away At 61

September 29, 2019

Over the last several hours, reports have broke that one of daytime’s most notable scribes has died. Hogan Sheffer, who was head writer at As the World Turns, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless has passed away at the age of 61.

Soap Hub, first reported the news via multiple sources, however, many writers who worked with Hogan during his tenure on the soaps have taken to social media to share their condolences and their grief and remembrances.

Sheffer’s appearance on the soap scene was unexpected, especially in a genre where it is often rare for new blood to take the reins at the head writer position. Proctor & Gamble had decided to bring in Hogan after his work as the Director of Screenplay Development for DreamWorks, not because of his writing credits for a previous network soap. He was given trial deal as a breakdown writer for the CBS soap and 10-weeks in became the beloved town of Oakdale’s new head writer.

Hogan and his then writing team were able to turn the classic, As the World Turns around. The show went up in the ratings and during his time with the series ‘World Turn’s’ won two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series, and he and the writing team picked up four Emmy victories all through 2000-2004.

Photo: JPI

Next, Sheffer landed in Salem as head writer of Days of our Lives along with Meg Kelly from 2006 through to the beginning of 2008. He would later join The Young and the Restless and team up with then head writers: Maria Arena Bell and Scott Hamner, and eventually stay with the show till 2012. During Sheffer’s time in Genoa City, Y&R also won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in 2011.

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On Sunday, former WWE and daytime writer Tom Casiello, who was extremely close with Sheffer… and who shared how Hogan gave him his start at writing in daytime, took to his Facebook page to pay tribute to a man who had such an impact on his life and many others. It is worth the read here.

Y&R writer, Sara Bibel tweeted: “Hogan Sheffer was a gamechanger for ATWT and daytime. Everyone I know who worked with him adored him. RIP”

And, iconic ATWT star, Martha Byrne (Ex-Lily) tweeted on Sheffer’s passing: “To say he was one of a kind would be a tremendous understatement. Our years at ATWT with Hogan at the helm were a rebirth for our beautiful show. Loved his writers, actors,crew. Blessed to have him on the first floor in Brooklyn ready to listen. Talented. Funny. Generous. RIP”

Colleen Zenk (Ex-Barbara, ATWT) also took to Twitter upon learning of the passing of Sheffer sharing: “I loved him, loved him, loved him… he was so good to me. Thank you for everything, Hogan. You were so loved. Especially, by me… Rest in peace…”

Michael Fairman TV will continue to bring you updates as the soap world mourns the loss of a creative force in our genre. Share your condolences and thoughts on the death of Hogan Sheffer via the comment section below.

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FRIDAY: ATWT’s Larry Bryggman and AMC’s Dorothy Lyman Guest Star On ‘The Blacklist’

January 17, 2019

Two of the most revered performances ever in the world of daytime drama will be seen tomorrow night on an all-new episode of NBC’s drama series, The Blacklist. (10/9c).

In “The Pawnbrokers”, Daytime Emmy winners, Larry Bryggman (Ex-John Dixon, As the World Turns) and Dorothy Lyman (Ex-Opal Gardner, All My Children) will be seen as a criminal duo!

Bryggman and Lyman play a couple that fronts cash to criminals on the black market. In story, series star, James Spader’s Red acclimates himself to his new digs in federal prison, where he is challenged by an old rival. Samar (Mozhan Marnò) goes undercover to stop a black market organization that fronts cash to criminals. (Enter Larry and Dorothy!) And, Liz (Megan Boone) and Jennifer (guest star Fiona Dourif) continue their investigation into Red’s past.

Check out the promo for tomorrow night’s episode below. Then let us know if you will be checking out Larry and Dorothy and if all of this brings back memories of their amazing performances in Oakdale and in Pine Valley in the comment section below.