Emotional end for ‘As the World Turns’ on Emmys

Veteran actress Agnes Nixon poses with her Lifetime Achievement Award backstage at the Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Las Vegas, Sunday, June 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Story Topics

• Human Interest Story
• Entertainment_Culture
• As The World Turns
• CBS
• Michael Park

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It was an emotional day for the cast and crew of CBS’ “As the World Turns” when it wrapped up production last week after 53 years on the air. The Daytime Emmy Awards may have eased some of that pain with hardware.

Michael Park and Maura West, who play an on-again, off-again couple on the show, won best actor and actress awards for a daytime drama on Sunday’s Daytime Emmy Awards. The awards show was aired live from the Las Vegas Hilton.

Ms. West beckoned her sobbing daughter onstage to bask in the award. Mr. Park said he may give his trophy to his grandmother, who has been watching “As the World Turns” for more than a half-century on CBS. He said he hoped no one would have to endure the sadness felt by the cast and crew when the show stopped filming on Wednesday. The final episode is scheduled for air on Sept. 17.

“You try to garner up this tough exterior, as if it’s not hurting you, and the whole time it’s killing you inside,” Mr. Park said. 

Another “As the World Turns” cast member, Julie Pinson, was named best supporting actress in a drama.

The show’s cancellation is a sign of the times, said Jon Lindstrom, who competed against fellow Mr. Park for the best actor nod.

“Unless we cheapen production, they’re all going to go away, I’m afraid,” he said.

“As the World Turns” wasn’t nominated in the category of best soap opera, which was won by CBS’ “The Bold & The Beautiful” for the second consecutive year. Head writer Bradley P. Bell’s writing team was honored for a story line featuring television’s 88-year-old “it” girl, Betty White.

“It was the first time she died on television, and we were very honored to have her do that for us,” Bell said.

It was a big night for Discovery’s “Cash Cab.” The show filmed in the back of a New York City taxi was named best game show for the third time in a row, and host Ben Bailey won for the first time as best game show host. Bailey wore sneakers to the ceremony because he’s been suffering from a bad back.

“I want to share this with all my fellow cab drivers and standup comedians,” Bailey said as he held his trophy. “Those are both very difficult jobs.”

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was named best entertainment talk show. Both Ms. DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey did not submit their names for best talk show host, an award won by Winfrey protege Dr. Mehmet Oz for the first year of “The Dr. Oz Show.”

Son beat dad in the category of best informative talk show, won by “The Doctors.” The show’s executive producer is Jay McGraw, son of Dr. Phil McGraw, whose “Dr. Phil” was another nominee in the category.

“Looks like fun to win something around here,” said Daytime Emmy host Regis Philbin, whose “Live with Regis & Kelly” has never been named best talk show.

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