Tears, gasps and sighs filled the studio as cast, crew, maintenance, security, the whole As the World Turns family stood on the Metro set and listened to the sad news. The North American TV Programming Manager of P&G, Pat Gentile, had just explained how As the World Turns would not be renewed for the 2010-2011 programming year. Every word after turned into a jumble, leaving us with a somber and weary feeling as if our grandparents just passed away. We returned to our workday only to find that we were not the only people to hear the news as the phone began to ring off the hook with calls ranging from fans to actors asking if the news was true.
Shortly after the meeting, we started to see reports on the news as well as online articles, and fan site posts. Although rumors circulated after the passing of Guiding Light that our show would be next, there is a huge difference in knowing something is going to eventually happen and the day that it actually does. You quickly realize that the people you’ve grown to know and love will soon leave you, the friendly, familiar faces you’re accustomed to seeing everyday will disappear and your home away from home will soon become a distant memory. The news hit us hard.
Our Director of Human Resources and Administration made rounds and let us know that she is well aware that everyone will need to talk about formalities and next steps but today is not the day. Today is a day for “family”. We deem today “As the World Turns Family day”. As we start to pick up the many shattered pieces of our broken hearts, we’ll cling to the notion that we are here to do our jobs. Jobs that have been done for more than fifty-four years. Jobs that we must continue to do for the next six months. We will look forward to the last year of As the World Turns and will continue to do phenomenal work. Because our family will settle for nothing less than a job well done.
