As the World Turns
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Earlier this week, Ryan Serhant blogged about his stint on As the World Turns:

Today was my last day at As The World Turns. I've known since the beginning of my contract what Evan's purpose was and that he would only be on the canvas for 14 weeks. I was hoping that Evan might have gotten a little meatier of a storyline, and not be so useless, but with the writer's strike, certain (things) had to be overlooked.

But I came in and I went out the way I was told in the beginning, so I'm happy about that. Evan's last day is February 14th.

I am so grateful for these last few months and they could not have come at a better time for me. The contract win was not what I expected, but I tried to do the best with whaht I was given. I met some amazing people in Oakdalelynn, and I learned a lot.

I will miss everyone I had the pleasure of working with. But Evan's best days are yet to air, so don't give up on him yet!

So, it's obvious that Evan is the one who poisoned Bob and will off Dusty, isn't it? There wasn't much doubt before, but this pretty much seals that deal.

Fans of As the World Turns - and, specifically, the gay couple of Luke and Noah - have begun a "Kiss Campaign." Its goal?

To coax CBS and Procter & Gamble Productions into giving these cuties another on-screen liplock (especially since some primo opportunities were conspicuously dodged in recent weeks).

"Soaps, like all businesses, live and die by consumer response to a product," campaign founder Jerome wrote at AfterElton.com. "And while email complaint letters certainly get noticed, it's the more-grandiose gestures that usually succeed in eliciting a response."

Therefore, Jerome is calling on Luke-Noah (Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, respectively) supporters to flood CBS Daytime Programs SVP Barbara Bloom with Hershey's Kisses.

"The symbolism," Jerome notes, "is obvious."

Dominic Fumusa is joining the cast of As The World Turns.

The actor will portray the role of Matt and will be included in Casey’s return to Oakdale. Look for Fumusa to appear in early February.

Want a look at upcoming As the World Turns stories and episodes for the week? Here you go...

• Carly and Sam share a close moment.

• Katie chooses to put the Snyder men behind her.

• Meg fears Craig (Scott Bryce, pictured) will go too far.

• Emily and Dusty face off.

• Noah puts pressure on Luke (Van Hansis).

Martha Byrne took over the role of Lucy Deakins on As the World Turns in 1985. She won an Emmy in 1987 for it.

Ont he series, Byrne's character ended up marrying Derek, who died in an explosion meant for her in 1989. A badly burned Lily subsequently left town, as Byrne herself took off for Hollywood.

"I've gone as far as I can go with Lily," she told Soap Opera Digest back then. "The character needs a break, and so do I."

From there, Heather Rattray took over as a colder, cynical Lily in 1990. It was this Lily who eventually wed Holden in an elaborate ceremony, but Jon Hensley (who portrays Holden) admits:

"We didn't have that underlying chemistry that you need to make it work day in and day out."

So Rattray was dismissed and then-Head Writer Douglas Marland lured Byrne back to As the World Turns in 1993, when Rattray was leaving.

"I was more than happy to come back because he was writing and he had great ideas. Then, unfortunately, he passed away before I started taping," said Byrne, who later added. "I'll stay on As the World Turns as long as they want me."

When Brad and Katie got down tot he task of making baby Snyders, they didn't hide their joy for the bedroom romp.

The man who portrays Brad on As the World Turns, meanwhile, recently told Soap Opera Digest how funny they were to tape.

"I really had a good time," said Austin Peck of Brad and Katie's first go-round. "That was a very fun day."

It was also one without a lot of clothing involved.

"I know, I know," Peck said. "I need to get in the gym. I haven't been working out.

Despite Peck's hesitance at getting naked, commented on how confident Brad is in his bare skin.

"I love playing Brad because part of his appeal is that he is so willing to let things hang out," the actor said. "He's very aware of his sexuality, of his looks. He's totally willing to bare it all — and very aware that he is baring it all."

We bet viewers are glad about this fact, as well.

Coming up, during a holiday week of episodes on As the World Turns...

• Carly is grateful when Sam gives her night a boost.

• Dusty enters Bob's hosptial room, determined to get the truth.

• Katie and Brad share a New Years Eve kiss.

• Gwen and Will (Jesse Soffer, pictured) welcome their new baby.

In light of the recent complaints by many As the World Turns about how Luke and Noah have been treated as a couple, a publicist for the show has issued the following statement:

As The World Turns fully supports the Luke and Noah storyline. We have exciting story planned for the couple that will begin airing early next year. As soap opera fans know, there is an ebb and flow to storylines. While Luke and Noah may currently be in a lull, they won’t be for long.

We're gonna hold producers of the series to this statement, as we post a clip of our favorite faux gay couple from last month:

In a dramatic example of art imitating life, Colleen Zenk-Pinter's character of Barbara will soon receive the same news the actress dealt with earlier this year:

A cancer diagnosis.

The bad news will hit Barbara on the January 2 episode of As the World Turns, the same day she's banned from the baptism of her grandchild.

"She's all alone and desperate when she gets the diagnosis," Pinter told TV Guide. "She ends up at the church after the christening, praying for help. Let me tell ya, that was a tough scene to get through."

How will this story play out? "Hard to tell because of the writers' strike," the actress added. "But I told [executive producer, Chris Goutman], 'This cancer can be a real killer, so don't let Barbara ignore it too long. I need my job!'"

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.