Please Note: As the World Turns will be preempted Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 due to CBS Sports coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Martha Byrne shot her last scenes for As the World Turns today.
As for how her character will be written out of the show, sources say Lily will suddenly realize that she's traumatized by Dusty's January death and will leave town in May.
Byrne's immediate plans include spending time with her family (retired NYPD Sgt. Michael McMahon and their three kids Michael, Maxwell and Annmarie) and hosting a live chat on her Web site (www.marthabyrne.net ) Sunday night at 7, when, she promises, "all your questions will be answered."
""A door has been closed, but I have always found"it"to be"true that another one soon opens," Byrne said. Watch this space for her next gig - and for the name of the new actress hired to play Lily.
As previously reported, Jon Prescott joins the cast of As The World Turns in the role of Mike Kasnoff on April. Here's a bit of background on the character:
Kasnoff arrives in Oakdale ,hoping for closure with ex-wife Katie... but finds himself in the middle of another on-again/off-again couple's relationship. Of course he does.
The role of the good guy contractor was previously played by Mark Collier from July 2002 through January 2007. Prior to that, Shawn Christian - new Days of Our Lives hunk - was the original Mike from 1994 to 1997.
Forget the off-set drama surrounding Van Hansis, or at least his character of Luke and his lack of kissing Noah in six months on As the World Turns.
According to AfterElton.com, the actor at least isn't going anywhere; he has signed a new contract with the show.
Jake Silbermann, however, is still a recurring character. He will continue as such for now, meaning he isn't signed to a contract like Hansis. But sources say there are no plans to get rid of the character of Noah any time soon. Thank goodness.
Dominic Fumusa recently chatted with CBS.com about his new character on As the World Turns. Just what is this Gray Gerald guy up to?
CBS.com: Tell me a little about Gray.
Dominic Fumusa: Well, he comes to town as a mystery man. No one really knows what he's doing. He shows up to a poker game with Henry. Gray's a man of means and engages in high stakes poker with Henry. Over the course of the evening Gray wins a large amount of money from Henry.
Henry claims that he doesn't have the money, but he does offer up the diner and there starts the whole, what people are calling, the "Indecent Proposal" when I say I'll forgive the bet, but instead of the diner, I take your girlfriend for a night.
CBS.com: What are Gray's intentions?
Dominic Fumusa: The funny thing is, is that it's not clear what Gray's intentions are but what is clear is that he doesn't seem to be the nicest guy but you, as the viewer, aren't sure why you don't like him. As the name implies Gray is very gray.
Read the full interview with Fumusa now.
To the chagrin of many As the World Turns fans, it's been confirmed that Jennifer Landon, Jesse Soffer will be exiting the series this spring.
We now have brief, inside information regarding how their characters - Gwen and Will - will be written out...
Their exit will be related to the custody issues surrounding Hallie, which popped up again this week as Gwen returned the baby to birth-mother Sofie.
Both Will and Gwen have had their ups and downs in Oakdale since they came on the scene; and it appears as though the drama with Hallie and Sofie will be the last straw for each.
Will this type of explanation for the elimination of two key cast members satisfy you? Share your thought now in our forum.
Now that Martha Byrne is officially leaving As the World Turns, the actress has a response to the show's side of her departure, which went as follows:
"We have made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the As the World Turns cast."
Byrne doesn't see it the same way. She recently told Soap Opera Digest:
"Last year, understanding the impending fiscal constraints the show faced, I willingly signed a one-year contract with a substantial pay reduction. With six weeks remaining on that contract, the show began negotiations on a new one. I made it known I was willing to sign a multi-year contract and was committed to stay with the show...
"I then learned the show, that same afternoon, put out a breakdown for my immediate replacement. That was the end of any further negotiations for me. Unfortunately, what I thought to be a reasonable and workable request, the show determined [to be] unworkable."
This week on As the World Turns, Jack, Carly, Brad, Katie and Henry converge in Chicago. The adventure culminates in Henry's being freed and Jack getting shot.
"Brad and Katie go to this warehouse looking for Henry," Austin Peck, who plays Brad, told The New York Daily News. "Jack and Carly are there looking for Kit, so they all work together."
Kit is wanted back in Oakdale, where Parker is on trial for murder.
"Kit is the key to keeping Parker from being sent to prison for killing Sam. [Parker] fired one shot that hit Sam, but Kit fired the second shot that killed him," said Peck.
As for Henry?
"Gray wants Vienna, so he tried to get Henry out of the picture by kidnapping him. As it happens, Kit and Henry are both in the same warehouse in Chicago. Kit, for some reason, has [the ventriloquist's dummy] Cowboy Jack with her. She tries to kill Carly and Jack by dropping Cowboy Jack on them."
She can't throw her voice, much less the doll. An escape attempt ensues.
Read the rest of this ATWT preview now.
Here's a look ahead at this coming week episodes on As the World Turns...
Give Jeannie Tharrington credit for honesty at least.
Aspokesperson for the As the World Turns' producing company Proctor & Gamble Productions Inc., Tharrington admits that the 52-year-old series has a diverse fan base, some of whom might be called conservative.
Hence, the hesitation to advance the story line between Luke and Noah too quickly.
We are intentionally doing this slowly, says Tharrington. Were trying to respect all viewers. We want to present whats best creatively and whats best for our diverse audience.
As the World Turns fans wanna see actors Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann smooch again.