As the World Turns Says Goodbye to Helen Wagner

Jul 22, 2010 11:17 AM ET

As the World Turns will end its phenomenal 54-year run September 17 with lots of fan-pleasing closure — romances, reunions, weddings — but first the show must deal with the death last spring of actress Helen Wagner. Her salt-o-the-earth character, Nancy Hughes, famously uttered ATWT's very first line ("Good morning, dear") back on April 2, 1956 and exec producer Chris Goutman wanted her to repeat it at the end of the final episode for the ultimate in TV cool. "Helen's death was a great loss, made even greater by the fact that she didn't make it to the end," says Goutman, who will have Nancy quietly pass away August 30. The soap will then pay tribute to both actress and character with a full farewell episode August 31.

"I actually considered pre-taping that final scene with Nancy just to be safe but I thought that would be bad karma," reveals Goutman. "Then Helen died and we weren't able to do what we had planned, and that just added more emotional burden to what we were already feeling. But my God, she was 91 years old! What a terrific run! What a terrific lady! Helen was in failing health the last couple of years and it was hard to bring her onto the show successfully, but we did what we could. I wish we could have done more, but it was so difficult for her. Even under those conditions, she was a magnificent force."

Nancy's demise will come at a big time for the Hughes clan, just as Casey (Billy Magnussen) and Alison (Marnie Schulenburg) are about to announce their engagement (they want Nancy to be the first to know) and Chris (Daniel Cosgrove) is getting ready to tell his loved ones that he's suffering from a potentially lethal heart condition. Nancy's son Bob [Don Hastings] will go to her apartment to pick her up for the family gathering, and then must deliver the sad news that she has died. "Life and love and death and imminent loss will all be colliding at once but that's always been our town," says Goutman. "It's the kind of storytelling ATWT does best."

Don't expect the usual church memorial. "We decided not to go the traditional route in paying tribute to Nancy because she made it clear she didn't want anything fancy done," Goutman notes. "Instead, we pick up right after the ceremony with all the characters feeling like they need to do more for her. Casey takes the lead and challenges everyone to come up with a special way to honor Nancy, and that becomes our farewell episode."

Look for more exclusive scoop from Goutman about the end of ATWT next week!

http://www.tvguide.com/News/World-Turns-Says-1020828.aspx

Edited July 22, 201015 yr by Eric83

I hope this is a decent send off, they really didn't have enough time to do this, so I'm just happy with the fact that they're even doing something for her.

I guess funeral services are so five minutes ago. Days just did the same thing, skipping straight to the "after-the-service" gathering.

I was about to post this.

Here are more spoilers

Holden spends the night before his wedding with Lily.

Holden is late getting to the wedding.

Lucinda and Blackthorn step up their schemes to get Craig.

Craig is threatened.

Lily gets a sweet gesture from Holden.

Janet and Dusty look to others for comfort.

Lucy and Gabriel bond over memories of Gabriel's mother.

Carly and Jack team up to set up Blackthorn.

This sounds like it'll be pretty good. KH is gonna bring the tears, I just know it, and when Kim cries, I cry.

Helen was in failing health the last couple of years and it was hard to bring her onto the show successfully, but we did what we could.

Even in failing health, though, HW still could act circles around "actors" a third of her age and look better than them, too.

I guess funeral services are so five minutes ago. Days just did the same thing, skipping straight to the "after-the-service" gathering.

Even when Chris Hughes passed away, ATWT didn't actually show the service. They just showed everyone gathering at the Hughes family home.

The main difference is they at least brought back Don and Penny.

Will ATWT even remember there IS a Don or a Penny? How sad if the only way Don is even mentioned is in a fake flashback where Chris makes out with Katie.

Please don't let this memorial be about how Nancy says Allison/Casey and Katie/Chris are soulmates.

Edited July 22, 201015 yr by CarlD2

Tom: Before she died, Grandma gave me this half of a locket to give to you, Chris, and she said Katie would know to do about the other half...?

Katie: Oh, so that explains the gift Nancy gave to me at Old Town last week!

I guess funeral services are so five minutes ago. Days just did the same thing, skipping straight to the "after-the-service" gathering.

It is so much cheaper than having ten contract players all in the same room at the same time. Also, it is a way to take focus off the dead character and allow the other actors to be all self-absorbed and feel good. I almost wish they would let it be because this will be a lousy tribute.

Goutman is an idiot with his bad Karma BS. He knew HW was in bad heath and he could have saved her an extra trip down to NYC with a quick 'Goodnight Dear' taping.

I REALLY wanted Nancy to close the show and obviously assumed they might do pre-taping. However, my guess is that if HW felt she couldn't make it until the end, she would have volunteered. (She love the show that much.) Goutman for all his faults, is not to blame for this. It's just hard to believe that tomorrow, we'll be saying ATWT will air its last episode next month....

No Penny? Donald? Ellen? Absent hughes grandbabies?

No Penny? Donald? Ellen? Absent hughes grandbabies?

Nope...and that's Goutman for you!

No Penny? Donald? Ellen? Absent hughes grandbabies?

Who cares about that when you can get Lucy and Iris?

Who cares about that when you can get Lucy and Iris?

Oh please Carl...I thought you were better than that...you forgot about Blackie....he is more important. So that Janet can be told how perfect she is...and to reunite JP with her hubby!

Oh please Carl...I thought you were better than that...you forgot about Blackie....he is more important. So that Janet can be told how perfect she is...and to reunite JP with her hubby!

Whenever I hear that I always end up thinking it's John Stamos...or a dog...