After a momentous run of 54 seasons and 13,858 episodes, it was announced that As the World Turns would finally be put to rest once and for all. For many, it was a sad day. Let’s face it, soap operas are what they are – maudlin little vignettes of over-the-top drama that feature an idealized world of constant romance and intrigue and that’s why we love them. And ATWT had been with us for 54 years, spanning and spawning several generations of fans in the process – for some, it was a way of life.

Many things were responsible for the cancellation but the largest of them all was dwindling ratings. The soap opera or daytime drama was originally conceived as a way to keep housewives entertained, and during its inception it found its market. Unfortunately things change and so do the cultures and the demographics. Women were staying home less and those that could get their television from places like http://www.directstartv.com/ were able to record their programs without having to be there in person.

Thankfully, when the cancellation had been made official, the networks knew how to proceed. The series was brought to a satisfying conclusion and while some of us are sad to see it go, we can at least be thankful that it was given an ending.