Katie Couric's Notebook: As the World Turns

The word came from CBS -- it's canceling the long-running soap opera "As the World Turns."

It first started spinning tales of the people of Oakdale in 1956.

Helen Wagner .. now 91 .. has been on the show since day one.

Even if you've never watched, you've no doubt seen the famous clip of Wagner being interrupted by Walter Cronkite .. with the bulletin that President Kennedy had been shot.

Over the years, the cast has included Marisa Tomei and Meg Ryan. In 1988, it was the first daytime drama to introduce a gay character.

It's the last soap still produced by a soap-maker -- Procter and Gamble.

In the end, ATWT became the victim of a changing world -- fewer women home to watch.

And when the show goes off next September, the rest of the world will in fact be turning. But some of the drama will be gone.

That's a page from my Notebook.
I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.