As the World Turns to End Its 54-Year Spin

Tuesday December 08, 2009 02:10 PM EST

Michael Park and Maura West in As the World Turns

Kwaku Alston/CBS

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The sun won't rise on the citizens of Oakdale, Ill., come 2011 – the soap opera As the World Turns will be end its 54-year-run in September 2010, CBS announced Tuesday.

Bowed down by declining ratings among daytime soaps in general, the longrunning series, which is filmed in New York City, will draw the curtains for the final time on Sept. 17. Only three months ago – and almost exactly a year before that, on Sept. 18, 2009 – the 72-year-old soap Guiding Light broadcast its final episode.

Many of the castmembers of As the World Turns have gone on to have notable careers in film, including James Earl Jones, Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan and Parker Posey.
– Michael Y. Park

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