HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — CBS is ending As the World Turns after 54 years, the network announced Tuesday.
After more than 13,000 episodes, the show will air its final episode in September 2010. The program, which is currently the longest-running soap on television, has been a launching pad for several stars over the years, including James Earl Jones, Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan and Parker Posey.
"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."
The announcement is the latest blow to the soap community, which will now be down to just six shows. In September, CBS also bid adieu to Guiding Light.
When As the World Turns bows, ABC's General Hospital will become the oldest soap still on the air.
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