Why is Grayson McCouch Leaving As the World Turns?

After four years on As the World Turns, Grayson McCouch will say goodbye to Oakdale in early 2008.

What is the reason behind this development? There are two dueling theories:

• A show insider says that McCouch was asked to take a salary cut, something even the biggest names in soap operas have been asked to do in this era of budget crunching
• Other says McCouch simply wanted to leave the series.

Either way, McCouch taped his final As the World Turns scenes on December 14. The actor was presented with a cake to celebrate his nearly-five-year run with the show.

"We don't comment on actor contracts," an As the World Turns spokesperson said about the situation.