Hastings is not regularly recognized by the soaparatti, likely because his style is so laid back and naturalistic that it can generally be misconstrued as not being acting at all. In fact, I think Hastings' talent, like so many other daytime veterans, is taken for granted. On the contrary, it is the understated ease which Hastings brings to the role that can ground even the most outrageous of scenes, not the least of which occurred not too long ago when Hasting's Dr. Bob Hughes had to explain with a straight face how a microchip the size of an iPhone had been plucked out of Paul Ryan's brain. READ MORE

I fully expect the comments section to be full of invective and angry fist shaking about how ATWT is still "the worst soap on the air," how the vets are misused, and how the "Vortex of Suck" continues to, well, suck. In addition, the now well-documented list of the show's biggest defects remain stubbornly in place: warp-speed storytelling and the soul sucking semi-episodic structure continue to test the rapidly waning patience of the show's dwindling audience.

Having said that, it bears repeating that fans are a stubborn breed. We will praise shows, actors and performances we like, but we are quick to make our displeasure known when we feel things are not up to speed and falling apart. Once the latter narrative has been established it is very hard to turn the tide of opinion, even when a show starts to address its critics and make changes. Therefore, though the longstanding criticisms of ATWT are still valid, I think it is time to once again give credit where credit is due. READ MORE

As the World Turns was able to surprise the viewers today when the Hughes clan gathered at Tom (Scott Holmes) and Margo's (Ellen Dolan) for a surprise party for Casey (Billy Magnussen) who had just been reinstated at Oakdale University. In a scene Bob (Don Hastings) asked Alison (Marnie Schulenburg) out of the blue to bring in the next patient. When asked about it, Bob's excuse was that he was making a joke, but then later he called his wife Kim (Kathryn Hays) "Lisa".

Is this the beginning of an Alzheimer's disease storyline for Bob? Will it give vets like Don Hastings, Kathryn Hays and Eileen Fulton some much deserved airtime? I have to say, I'm intrigued and want to know where this is going. I just hope we won't find out that a microchip is causing Bob's strange behavior...

As the World Turns is something of a mystery to me these days. I haven't been blogging regularly about the show because, honestly, I am kind of flummoxed about what to actually write about from day to day.

I love ATWT. The show is blessed with some of daytime's strongest actors. In this age of massive cost cutting, ATWT found an arguably better production alternative than Procter & Gamble sister show Guiding Light. Speaking for myself, I find most days, most characters, most stories and most events to be sufficiently captivating to keep me coming back.

Nonetheless, something is badly amiss in Oakdale. The usual criticisms of ATWT are all-too-familiar: far too many recasts, underused vets, storylines that turn on a dime, compressed storytelling and ever shrinking production values to name a few. While those issues are real and important, they are only symptons of several larger problems that encapsulate the issues that I, other Daytime Confidential bloggers and commentators all over the internet have found themselves dismayed about over the last several months. After trying to put a finger on these issues while attempting to "figure out" what's going on at ATWT from a larger perspective, several things have jumped out as serious structural flaws, like a cracked foundation in a beloved old home. READ MORE

TV Guide Network's InFANity was on the set of As the World Turns for a look behind the scenes and to interview the cast. It's obvious that they've used old and new material, because they used a couple of interviews with Martha Byrne. Some of the other stars that were interviewed are Van Hansis, Jake Silbermann, Colleen Zenk Pinter, Marie Wilson, Billy Magnussen and Michael Park. Parts 2, 3 and 4 after the jump. READ MORE