Chris and Nancy Hughes
In all soap publications I've read, Helen Wagner is credited as being on AS THE WORLD TURNS since its premiere. While this may be true, I do know that she left the show in 1981. I belive this was during the time that Jerome and Bridgette Dobson (SANTA BARBARA) were the head writers and Mary-Ellis Bunim was the executive producer. My question is:
How did they write Nancy out of the show? I know that Don MacLaughlin stayed with the show for a while in 1981, then he seemed to disappear as well. How did they bring them back into the story when they returned in 1985?
To me, AS THE WORLD TURNS without Helen Wagner is like waffles without syrup!
Ms. Wagner left the show in the early 1980s, but there was also a time in the show's infancy that she was fired.
To placate her absence at that time, the off-screen character of her sister Pearl was created. Nancy was said to be visiting her sister Pearl.
And, then, throughout the history of the show, if Ms. Wagner was on vacation, Nancy was again visiting Pearl.
When Chris and Nancy were returned to the show for the 1986 anniversary shows, it was said that Chris and Nancy were celebrating their wedding anniversary.
They even sang the song Always by Irving Berlin to each other.
As I remember it. . .
Chris & Nancy moved to Arizona. Don't know if they said taht when they left, but I think they said that when they returned. They did return for the Anniversary (which they should re-run as Classic!) but then went back home. Nancy returned for Kim & Bob's wedding without Chris. Some excuse about him having an ear infection so he couldn't fly. Don McLaughlin was very sick by then. Nancy stuck around & planned to move back to Oakdale. Chris was supposed to come back too, but by then Don was dead. They wrote in his death eventually.
Nancy rules! Still don't know why they had to kill off hubby #2, Dan "Mac" MacClosky. He was great too. And he didn't cheat on Nancy like Chris did!
Re: As I remember it. . .
Did I read right that Chris cheated on Nancy? I do not remember this and I don't remember ever reading about it anywhere. Could you please elaborate on it?
One thing that sticks out in my mind about the new regime on As The World Turns. I do love the show alot these days and it has really turned around. I hate the lack of air time for many of the veterans. I really enjoyed Nancy's recent airing with the talent show. That was neat. I would love to see her in a new relationship though. I also had gotten so used to Penny showing up around Christmas time each year for a limited time. Was this the first year that it didn't happen in awhile. I sure wish they would bring back Penny and Donald both. With the new mystery theme going on in As The World Turns, Donald could really fit in well.
Rick
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I don't remember
Penny visiting every holiday. I do remember last year's visit. Her visits seem so few & far between to me. Maybe it's just because I like her so much! I like Don a lot too. Miss them both.
Yeah, Chris did cheat. Here's how I found out I read in one of my soap books about it & didn't believe it. I went to my mom & said that this book was filled with lies. It said that Nancy & Chris had a 4th child named Susan & that Chris had cheated on Nancy. My mom informed me the awful truth. The book didn't lie! By that time Chris was already dead so it didn't affect the way I viewed the character. I'll try to look at my books to see which one had the story & what exactly happened. My memories of what I read always loses the details. I think it was my book from the 70's (the book my mom bought for my grandmother when it was new, it was passed on to me & I've read the histories of all the shows I watch.) ATWT is so real to my family, I guess nobody wanted to tell me about Chris' affair until I brought it up!
Nancy in the early 80s
Helen Wagner did in fact leave the show for a period. They offered her a reduced contract, which she declined. But she did return for a special event or two before she permanently returned for Bob and Kim's wedding in early 1985. I believe by her account there was only one or two calendar years in which she actually did not appear
Re: Nancy in the early 80s
Oh, and about Chris...he did actually return with Nancy in 1985. If you saw February 14th's episode (which borrowed scenes shown on the 30th anniversary show) there is a brief clip where Frannie (Julianne Moore with long red braid) and Tom (Gregg Marx at the time) greet them that came from this period. Chris and Nancy stayed and moved into Bob & Kim's garage apartment. Chris was not seen nearly as much as Nancy because Don McLaughlin was so ill, and his absences were usually explained as Chris being out in the garden. During the 30th anniversary week, Don Hughes (Conard Fawkes) and Tom mentioned sitting and talking law with Chris offscreen, but he wasn't actually seen until the party itself, his final appearance. Not long afterwards he died and his death was addressed on camera with a funeral attended by Don and Mary Hughes, Grant Coleman, and the regulars on the show.
I read in one of my soap books about it & didn't believe it. I went to my mom & said that this book was filled with lies. It said that Nancy & Chris had a 4th child named Susan & that Chris had cheated on Nancy. My mom informed me the awful truth. The book didn't lie! By that time Chris was already dead so it didn't affect the way I viewed the character. 
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