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CBS cancels 'As the World Turns' -- soaps are dead despite James Franco
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Another daytime drama is being canceled after over 50 years on the air -- CBS has announced the world will stop turning for "As the World Turns."The final episode will air sometime in September 2010, reports the Associated Press. That will be the 54th year for the daytime drama. "As the World Turns" debuted in April 1956 as a half-hour serial focusing on the wealthy Hughes family. It has won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series four times (1987, 1991, 2001 and 2003).
This is the second major soap opera to get the axe recently. "Guiding Light" aired its last episode on Sept. 18, 2009. It holds the record for longest-running drama on television and radio, having run from 1937-2009.
Ratings continue to plummet for soap operas all over the network landscape. We wouldn't be surprised to hear about more of these cancellations in the coming years. This cancellation leaves CBS with only "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" on in daytime.
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Photo credit: CBS
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Never watched it, but hate that it it leaving. Sad times for daytime.
....WHOA......
Wow, little surprised they already made the decision, apparently "Lets make a deal' is going strong. It was predicted however that once GL was axed that ATWT would be next; although most thought it would be a couple of years. Days of our Lives will likely be next.
Bad acting. Bad writing. Bad overall. I'm shocked soaps have lasted as long as they have.
Dang! No more "As The World Churns" jokes... :(
As for James Franco, I have no idea what possessed him to demonstrate how Hollywood's current so-called "stars" have extremely low appeal to audiences.
.....and then there were none.
'One Life to Live' will be next on the chopping block.
At one point DAYS future on NBC wasn't looking bright but it is the ONLY daytime soap up in ratings and is #3 and hit #2 for the first time a few weeks ago. I could be wrong but I don't see NBC cancelling it when it is performing well in key demos. Plus NBC has very few bright spots daytime or primetime. James Franco's appearance on GH garned no upward motion for its ratings. It actually decreased day-to-day on his debut.
I only watch general hospital...use to watch all my children...one life to live and bold and the beautiful...but with so many choices at night and the dvr i have no time...
my favorite soap was cancelled a long time ago...SANTA BARBARA...i still miss it
Never watched any of these soaps, but they did seem to provide a vehicle for actors/actresses to gain some experience before moving to prime time. I imagine the cost of these long-time running soaps must be ridiculous with the high salries paid to the older actors