Helen Wagner spoke the first words on the very first episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS to her beloved husband, Chris: "Good morning, dear." The legendary actress is still going strong over 53 years later. If ATWT must end in September 2010, the most poetic ending for this historical program would be for Ms. Wagner to end with similar words to her son, Bob: "Good night, dear." It would be so sad, and perhaps too morbid, to see the passing of Nancy Hughes, but there will never be another dramatic show on television or any medium that has an opportunity to have such an ending. Perhaps it can be done with a death. But either way, AS THE WORLD TURNS has nine months to get this exactly right. The soap began with the Hughes and Lowell families and I would love to see them go out that way. Bring back Ellen Lowell Stewart to interact with Emily and feature Nancy, Bob, Lisa, and the entire Hughes family prominently. The time for "Nut Meg" has passed. Bring back John Dixon and give Lisa one more romance. Give this show the respectful send-off it deserves! No other soap has this much history and 2010 is the time to use it.
I have been bracing for impact for this for a long time, but I am beyond sad. I have perspective, I know it's not a death, but it is still very sad to me.
ReplyDeleteI knew it was coming, and I thought I could be strong, but this just blows me away! I've been watching on a daily basis since december 2009, exactly 10 years ago... But as bad as I feel, I feel even worse for the fans that have been watching for maybe 30, 40 or even 50 years.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that as a last honor to the fans, they will release a new edition of the As The World Turns Family Scrapbook updated with the last 14 years.
Or, Nancy could come home from (funeral, wedding, whatever) and do almost like AW with Nancy picking up a framed picture of Chris and say "good night, dear", and walk off to her room for the night. I am thankful that Helen Wagner is still with us, either way...no one will match her single-actor/single-role longevity and record.
ReplyDeleteWow, yet *another* soap loss for Brooklyn....
awtribute, I love that! Great idea. It just has to end with Nancy!
ReplyDeleteIt really does have to end with Nancy. The only "poetry" I can find in the end of ATWT is Nancy being there as she was all along. It would be a remarkable gift if they gave us an update to the Family Scrapbook, I would be very thankful for that, as would many others.
ReplyDeleteYes, they better be wooing Larry Byggman as I type this. And it is lovely that Helen Wagner can put the soap to bed.
ReplyDeleteI really hope they step up the writing in the last months. I don't think the writing now is as improved as everyone keeps saying and I thought GL was really underwritten in the end though the acting was stellar - perhaps that was due to the production model.
I agree 100% that the show needs to end with Helen Wagner.
ReplyDeleteYour idea of "Good night, dear" is perfect. Let's just hope someone from the show reads this!
I also hope that fan favorites like Larry Bryggman return for closure!
Not to be morbid--but I would like them to tape that final scene with Nancy NOW...today...and bank it. Nine months is a long time at a certain age.
ReplyDeleteMarkH - I thought the SAME thing! I know what you mean - morbid, perhaps, but we can't be the only ones thinking that!
ReplyDeleteMark, it is morbid but I made that same suggestion a while back to someone at the show long before this was news. I just felt like the end was coming and Nancy should be the one to close it out. It's so sad to think about though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea, Roger. However, maybe it shouldn't end with the "death" of Nancy, per se. I think it might be too morbid to do, so I agree with awtribute's suggestion.
ReplyDeleteBut, I agree - so many of the Hughes family are still there - USE THEM! Bring back some of the family to make it a great sendoff - bring back Penny Hughes, Don Hughes, Frannie, Sabrina, etc. Give Nancy, Bob, Kim, AND LISA the spotlight and let them lead the show to the end.
This is such a sad day, but I knew this was coming...horrid. October of 2010 will mark the first time since 1933 that an Irna Phillips creation has NOT been on the air.
I agree, Roger, that Helen/Nancy should be the one to say Good Night, Dear!
ReplyDeleteI'm not looking forward to this September at all!
Great idea. If the show is leaving the air, bring back the vets.
ReplyDeleteAfter hours to digest this disastrous cancellation, I'm still upset.
CBS' execs stink.
Why wouldn't a cable network kill for 2+ million viewers when most original programming barely hits that target?