James Stenbeck (Anthony Herrera) dies again and Liberty (Meredith Hagner) is about to get an abortion – next week on As the World Turns. Watch the promo after the jump. READ MORE

The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy red carpet was awash in different hughes of red, orange, tan and brown. All My Children's Susan Lucci chose a orange gown. See which gowns Guiding Light's Gina Tognoni and Marcy Rylan, As the World Turns' Colleen Zenk Pinter, Meredith Hagner, Marie Wilson and Ewa Da Cruz, General Hospital's Lexie Ainsworth, One Life to Live's Melissa Archer and The Young and the Restless' Adrienne Frantz, Tonya Lee Williams and Victoria Rowell chose after the jump. Which did you like best and which did you like the least? See the dresses HERE. READ MORE

Photo by PR Photos

As the World Turns' Meredith Hagner, Van Hansis, Marie Wilson, Jake Silbermann, Jon Lindstrom, Ewa da Cruz and Colleen Zenk Pinter were interviewed on the red carpet at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Watch all 7 clips after the jump. READ MORE

Next week on As the World Turns, the Oakdalians are still dealing with Holden's "death".

It is hurry up and wait for Emma (Kathleen Widdoes) and Meg (Marie Wilson) on As the World Turns as they wait for word on Holden (Jon Hensley)? Watch the sneak peek after the jump. READ MORE

Perhaps someone passed along my Open Letter to Christopher Goutman. Perhaps Barbara Bloom took a good look at the plummeting ratings and decided that everyone should not lighten up after all. Perhaps head writer Jean Passanante took an extended vacation to Buenos Aires. Whatever has been happening over the last few weeks, let me step out on a limb and utter the words that many fans thought might not ever be said again or even believe: As the World Turns is, at long last, improving.

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