Product Description

"As the World Turns" was a groundbreaking series in television's history, the epitome of multigenerational, serial storytelling. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, the series enraptured generations of fans for more than a half century. Members of the illustrious creative team reflect on the end of the series, as well as the serial's many changes over fifty-four years.

This Paley Center for Media live event honors "As the World Turns," the long-running daytime serial set in the Midwestern town of Oakdale, which ended its run on September 17, 2010.

Ron Simon (television and radio curator, The Paley Center for Media) moderates the following panelists: executive producer Christopher Goutman; head writer Jean Passanante; and cast members Van Hansis (Luke Snyder), Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman), Terri Colombino (Katie Peretti), Colleen Zenk (Barbara Ryan), Kathryn Hays (Kim Hughes), Don Hastings (Bob Hughes), and Eileen Fulton (Lisa Grimaldi).

The panelists touch on such topics as: the difficulties of live television in the show's early days; Hansis having "broken ground" as the first major gay character on a soap opera; and the task of tying up the show's loose ends as the finale approaches.

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: the future of the soap opera genre; how an actor increasingly bonds with the role after playing it for years; and Dawson's feelings on wearing a dress and high heels during one of his character's arcs.