{alltv} As the World Turns, Coming to an End

Thursday, September 16, 2010

{alltv} As the World Turns, Coming to an End

Another 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.