As The World Turns started on SABC2 Daytime at 14h20 (Mondays to Fridays) at the beginning of June - you may have been wondering about the ins and outs of it.
We've put together this info. pack to clarify more about the show, it's history, context and future; and the teasers for episodes in July.
Blast To The Past
The series first premiered on CBS in the US on 2 April 1956 and has been on air ever since. It was a benchmark show in it's time, alongside soapie The Edge Of Time
Both shows premiered on the same date and were the first soapies to be 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes - which had been the convention up until then.
It debut'd in black and white and changed to colour in 1967. Between 1958 and 1978 it was the most watched daytime soapie in the US.
Episodes extended to become an hour in 1975.
The series celebrated 10 000 episodes in 1995 and celebrated 50 years on air on 2 April, 2006.
The Scenario
Set in the closey-knit fictional community of Oakdale, Illinois, the series centres round the loves and lives of the Hughes, Montgomery, Ryan, Snyder, Stewart and Walsh families, which has now moved through generations.
The families are mostly involved with legal and medical businesses. This from wikipedia about the size of their hometown:
"Though Oakdale is usually depicted as a fairly small town, it nonetheless is apparently large enough to have its own airport, a television station, a luxury hotel, three major newspapers, and a university, and its hospital is renowned enough to have attracted a number of world-class physicians, surgeons and researchers over the years."
Emmy Awards
Maura West, who has played Carly on the show since 1995. SO soapie.
Since it's debut, the series has won 43 Daytime Emmy Awards in categories including Outstanding Writing Team, Outtanding Drama Team, Outstanding Original Song as well awards for leading cast.
On Sunday this week (27 June) the show topped the Daytime 2010 Emmy Awards, winning awards in three categories:
- Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Maura West (Carly)
- Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Michael Park (Jack) and
- Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julie Pinson (Janet). Julie played Billie on Days too.
Right NowThe Daytime Emmy scoop was also to pay tribute to the show's accomplishments over the years. At the end of 2009 CBS announced that the show has been cancelled.
The Daytime Emmy's featured a special tribute to the show: a collection of clips from the series over the years.
The last episode airs in the US on 17 September 2010.
Now on SABC2
The broadcast on SABC2 picked up the series from Episode 12 653, which was broadcast in the US on 9 December 2005.
The episodes build-up to the 50th anniversary of the show and are part of Season 50. When the show premiered here on 1 June, the episode was Season 50: Episode 172.
To simplify the numbering process as the series continues, the premiere has been numbered Episode 1.
22 episodes have been broadcast so far, with Episode 23 coming up in July.
The teasers for the month: ...
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Episode 23
Meg tries to explain to Jennifer that she did what she did because she loved Dusty. Jennifer lets Meg tell Emma in her own way, and Emma is devastated to hear what her daughter has done.
Hal tries to convince Emily to turn Paul in, but she insists she hasn't heard from Paul since he called to tell her the wedding was off. Kate and Nick talk about his childhood with Mike, and Katie calls him on his interest in Carly, but warns him that Mike and Jack will take him apart.
Paul tries to get away from the cabin before anyone can come back.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Episode 24
Paul agrees to pay Meg one million dollars to help him, and the two confide in each other as to what got them both to that point. Keith wrestles the knife away from Luke, who is determined to cut the kidney out if he has to.
Emily is thrilled when Tom brings Daniel by for a visit to cheer her up, until Daniel points out that she has lost an earring. Panicking, Emily realises she must have lost it when she rolled Paul's body off the cliff.
Holden agrees to sign the divorce papers, telling Lily that he just can't do that to Luke anymore. Emily is luckily able to find her earring, but loses her way in the fog and finds her way to the cabin, where she sees Paul.
Monday, 5 July 2010Episode 25 Casey is furious when Tom and Margo tell him that they are not going to let him go to the University of Wisconsin, and blames it on Gwen.
Emily screams when she thinks she sees Paul but takes off before he can get to her after hearing Meg's car. Paul tries to force Meg to hunt Emily down, but Meg balks at taking orders from Paul, and finally tells him that she's the one who exposed him.
Lily shows up at the airport and begs Keith to let her go. Keith agrees to do so, but reminds her that if she breaks her promise, she'll be responsible for whatever happens to Luke.
Gwen and Will are devastated when Dr. Schiller tells them she's not pregnant. Luke and Holden are thrilled when Lily returns to the farmhouse.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010Episode 26 Gwen is devastated when Dr. Schiller tells her that due to complications from her fall in New York, she may never have children. Will and Gwen are then faced with an angry Barbara, who offers to reinstate Will's trust fund if he dumps Gwen.
Casey grabs Maddie and pulls her in for a kiss. Maddie later talks to Henry about moving out of the Hughes home. Carly is upset with both herself and Nick when Hal is only able to offer Jack parttime work, and gets into it with Nick at the police station.
Meg is all set to walk out on Paul when he collapses on her, and she reluctantly agrees to help him, but warns him that he will pay the price. Susan pleads Emily's case with Hal.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010 Episode 27 Gwen applies for a job at Java, but the manager just doesn't think she has the right stuff. Holden surprises Lily when he proposes to her and suggests that they renew their vows.
Katie and Mike are getting passionate on the couch when Nick shows up, telling them he's been evicted from his new place after just one day. Gwen blames Carly for not being able to have children.
Lily and Holden decide to renew their vows that night, and share the news with a happy Luke. Hal is upset to learn that Will is putting school on hold to work as a mechanic at Burt's garage.
Thursday, 8 July 2010 Episode 28 Meg is devastated when she is called into the hospital and learns that not only has she been suspended from the hospital, but her nursing license has also been suspended. Although Holden offers Meg his support and invites her to his and Lily's vow renewal, Meg sticks to her original plan and steals the medical supplies she needs. Emily goes back to the apartment to clean out the rest of her things, and is assailed with memories of her time with Paul.
Friday, 9 July 2010 Episode 29 Emily confronts Meg about the drugs that spilled out of her bag and Meg almost spills the beans about knowing Emily shot Paul.
Carly wants to take Barbara up on her offer to help out with the family finances. Emily runs into Jennifer and tries to get sympathy from Jennifer by telling her about how Paul dumped her, and Jennifer says she told him to.
Jack offers to take over the Paul Ryan case, but Hal tells him that he's too late the case has already been turned over to Nick Kasnoff.
Meg enters the house as Holden and Lily renew their vows, but leaves after seeing Dusty and Jennifer kiss.
Monday, 12 July 2010Episode 30 Meg finds Paul out in the snow and manages to get him back in the cabin. She climbs into bed with him (fully clothed) in an attempt to keep him warm, and a delirious Paul thinks that she is Rosanna.
Nick shows up at Jack and Carly's looking for help with the Paul Ryan case, and Carly softens towards Nick after seeing the way he interacts with Parker.
Emily is devastated to realise that Paul broke things off with her because Jennifer convinced him that the best thing for Emily was to not have Paul in her life.
Hal calls Burt down to the station and threatens him, causing Burt to fire Will and evict Gwen, even though it isn't something that he wants to do.
Maddie is horrified to realise that Margo plans on charging the person who brought B.J. to town as an accessory.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 Episode 31 Meg and Paul talk at the cabin, and although Meg is angry with Paul when he compares the two of them, after listening to him explain how he systematically destroyed every person he loved, Meg softens.
Maddie and Henry meet at the Lakeview, and although Henry seems to be enjoying his illgotten gains, Maddie continues to feel guilty.
Nick questions Emily as to Paul's disappearance, and while she is prickly, she encourages him to believe Paul went to Switzerland to be with Rosanna.
Mike and Katie are trying to enjoy a romantic evening alone when Jennifer shows up. She and Mike sign off on their divorce, and wish each other the best.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010Episode 32 Maddie finally realises she can't lie to Mike and Katie anymore and confesses that she is the reason that B.J. came to town. Mike wants to call the cops, but Katie's reluctance and Casey's defense of Maddie convinces him not to.
Will goes to see Kim to ask for a job and a place to stay, but she is only willing to house Will. Gwen asks Carly for money, not realising the situation that the Snyders are in. Carly calls Barbara to accept her offer, planning to use the money she'll make to help Gwen.
Emily returns to the bluff to hide any evidence that can hide her connection to Paul's disappearance and runs into Henry, who is trying to hide the money he stole from B.J. The two both agree to keep each other's secrets.
Nick makes a rash decision in his quest to prove he's just as good a cop as Jack is.
Thursday, 15 July 2010Episode 33 Holden and the children move back into the house with Lily, but Luke still seems troubled. Later, Kevin asks Luke for a back rub for a sore shoulder which Luke initially refuses, but then gives into.
Emma gets nowhere when she tries to talk to Meg about the stolen medical supplies, prompting her to go to Dusty to ask him if he knew whether or not Meg was using drugs.
Emily convinces Henry to help her cover her role in Paul's death in exchange for keeping quiet about the money. Wrapped only in a blanket, Meg answers Nick's knock at the door and insists she would never help Paul out.
Carly offers to write Gwen a check for $1000, not realising that Will is telling Barbara that she's giving Gwen the money (which Barbara had given Carly).
Friday, 16 July 2010 Episode 34 Barbara's arrival at the house interrupts Gwen taking the money from Carly, and Gwen turns on her sister after learning where the money came from.
After seeing Luke and Kevin together, Holden tells Lily he doesn't like their friendship, but claims it is because of the drinking. With no money and no place to stay, Will and Gwen spend the night wrapped in each other's arms outside Java.
Paul convinces Meg to help him fake his own death in order to save them both from the authorities.
Monday, 19 July 2010 Episode 35 Jack is upset to learn that Carly didn't tell him the whole truth about how she twisted her ankle, and Nick's involvement.
Meg is caught by the police as she is attempting to hide the gun but when Paul's car is found, Paul realises that his plan is working better than he thought and plants his own prints on the gun.
Luke agrees to spend some time with his dad until Kevin shows up with a bottle of vodka. Gwen and Will refuse Kim's offer of help, but reluctantly accept when Lisa offers Gwen a place to stay.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 Episode 36 Jack doesn't want to just accept the theory that Paul committed suicide despite Nick's conviction, but manages to anger Hal when he suggests that Hal is biased because his concern is more for Emily than Paul.
Gwen surprises Will when she accepts Lisa's offer to stay at the Lakeview alone and asks her for a job, but she convinces him that it's best.
Maddie covers for Casey when he's out after curfew by sleeping in his bed so that Margo doesn't know he's gone, and when he comes back, he suggests she stay there.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 Episode 37 Jennifer and Barbara feel guilty after learning of Paul's suicide from Hal, but Dusty isn't sure what to make of it.
Paul tries to convince Meg to flee for her own good, but she refuses to leave him and heads into town to get pills from her friend Eli.
Henry and Emily make plans to leave town after worrying that Hal is onto them. Maddie and Casey wake up after having spent a platonic night together but Maddie is hurt when she overhears Casey telling Margo that she means nothing to him.
Thursday, 22 July 2010 Episode 38 Meg returns to Paul with the medication she got from Eli to tell him about the memorial service that Jennifer and Barbara are planning for him only to learn he is determined to go.
Henry tries to cover for Emily as Hal pressures her for information on Paul's death, then later allows Henry to talk her into going to Paul's memorial service.
Will refuses Barbara's request to go to, and nothing Gwen says can convince him.
Luke confesses to Holden that he got drunk, but after Sean Davis shows up with his son Kevin to apologize, Holden tells Luke that from now on, there's no drinking, no driving, and no Kevin.
Friday, 23 July 2010 Episode 39 Nick throws an engagement party for Mike and Katie at Yo's but Katie isn't sure Mike is doing the right thing when he calls Jack and Carly over to join them.
Paul wants to go to the memorial service because he needs to know if his family forgives him, but Meg refuses, insisting she go in his stead. She's furious when he shows up and is nearly caught by Emily.
Casey can't understand why Maddie is blowing him off for a guy in her calculus class until he realises she overheard what he said to Margo.
Monday, 26 July 2010Episode 40 Meg is furious with Paul for crashing his own memorial service, but Paul is heartened by the things he heard his family say about him. Emily is convinced that Meg is up to something, so Henry reluctantly agrees to keep an eye on her.
Maddie flirts with her classmate Nate, much to Casey's annoyance, each one trying to deny their feelings for the other.
Margo warns Jack that Hal will have to be told about his altercation with Nick, leading Jack to ask Carly to let her anger with Nick go.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 Episode 41 Things are going well for Gwen and Will, and Gwen is enjoying her new job at the Lakeview until a guest accuses her of stealing a necklace. Barbara knows that Gwen didn't do it, but keep quiet.
Meg gets more concerned about Paul as his situation continues to get worse, but he tries to pay her to take off and save herself. Luke is furious with Faith for nearly reading his blog, but while he's dealing with her, Holden actually reads it and learns that Luke has a secret.
Henry and Emily team up to figure out what Meg knows, and Henry ends up having to dress as a woman yet again to get into Meg's hotel room.
Wednesday, 28 July 2010Episode 42 Lisa has no choice but to fire Gwen after the guest's accusation, and both Will and Gwen rail at Barbara, convinced she was somehow involved.
Luke rages at Holden after finding him reading his blog and tries to get Holden to come out and say was he's thinking, but Holden chokes.
Henry and Emily switch cell phones with Meg while she is packing, and Emily is shocked to call Meg's frequently dialed number and get Paul.
Will decides to steal money from Barbara so that he and Gwen can find a place to sleep Luke goes to a rooftop party where he meets Kevin.
Thursday, 29 July 2010 Episode 43Jennifer doesn't want to be the executrix of Paul's estate, but after realising that there are no other options because he wrote Barbara out completely, she reluctantly agrees to look after his affairs and goes to his penthouse where she finds a letter he left for her.
Emily convinces Henry to answer the phone when Paul calls back, but when he says nothing, she grabs the phone and says Paul's name. They then search Meg's room and find her muddy shoes, with reminds Emily of the cabin.
Luke is at a party with Kevin when his parents call to let him know they're coming home early so he heads for home and accidentally hits someone with his car. Paul watches Jennifer read the letter he left for her.
As The World Turns is on SABC2 Mondays to Fridays at 14h20.