Here are some of the news stories posted on soapcentral.com's As The World Turns section during the 2006 calendar year. To access articles from other years or to review articles with similar themes, please see the RELATED INFORMATION box directly below this text.

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What was the biggest ATWT news story of 2006?  JUL: Emmy winner Benjamin Hendrickson commits suicide.   56%   JUL: Ferrin opts out, ATWT kills off Jennifer Munson.   27%   MAY: Leyden, Seganti return for short-term ATWT visits.   8%   MAR: As the World Turns celebrates its 50th anniversary.   6%   Other   1%   MAR: ATWT publishes Oakdale Confidential book.   1%   JUL: ATWT launches on-line reality contest for role on ATWT.   1%   AUG: Former ATWT writer Hogan Sheffer hired by DAYS.   0%     Poll Posted: December 25th, 2006

Rumors are making the rounds that As the World Turns is in the initial stages of recasting the role of Rosanna Cabot. The role was most recently portrayed by Emmy-winning actress Cady McClain.

"Good Morning, Dear."

On the morning of April 2nd, 1956, those three words launched a 30-minute live soap opera called As the World Turns. Times were different then - married couple Nancy and Chris Hughes slept in separate twin beds - but 50 years later, As the World Turns continues to hold true to its traditional family values while remaining current with topical storylines.

To help celebrate its 50th anniversary, As the World Turns is breaking the fourth wall and allowing its viewers a chance to go inside the show like never before. Starting this month, a scandalous new novel, "Oakdale Confidential" will threaten to expose the secret lives of some of Oakdale's most prominent residents. And while the characters on As the World Turns learn more about these secrets, soap fans at home will be able to pick up their very own copy of the book and read along.

After four-and-a-half years away from Oakdale, actor Paolo Seganti (Damian Grimaldi) will be making a homecoming to As the World Turns later this spring.

Days of our Lives fans are in for a real treat as two of the show's most popular characters of all time will be returning to the canvas. Though a first airdate is still up in the air, a show spokesperson has now confirmed that Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Brady) and Stephen Nichols (Steven "Patch" Johnson) will be returning to the show later this spring. Evans has been appeared on ATWT as Sierra Montgomery.

As the World Turns will be bringing Lucy Montgomery back to Oakdale in the upcoming weeks. The announcement should not come as too much of a surprise to ATWT viewers, as soapcentral.com first reported on the show's plans to bring the character back in late-2005.

While television viewers might find it cliché, it really is an honor just to be nominated for a Daytime Emmy - or any award for that matter. For three of the talented actresses in this year's Outstanding Younger Actress field - Leven Rambin (Lily Montgomery, All My Children), Jennifer Landon (Gwen Norbeck, As the World Turns) and Mandy Bruno (Marina Cooper, Guiding Light) -- this year marked their first ever Daytime Emmy nomination.

After weeks of speculation and whispers on message boards, a spokesperson for As the World Turns has finally confirmed that Paul Leyden (Simon Frasier) will be returning to the show next month.

Emmy-nominated Jennifer Ferrin (Jennifer Munson) has finally answered that burning question. And for fans, the answer is not going to be what they had hoped to hear. The actress has decided not to renew her contract with As the World Turns.

The sand will continue to pass through the hourglass for at least another season. Corday Productions, NBC and Sony Pictures Television have reached a deal resulting in the renewal of Days of our Lives, soapcentral.com has learned. Terms of the deal were not immediately available, but in renewing the show, DAYS has hired former ATWT head writer Hogan Sheffer to take over writing duties.

In what will surely come as deeply upsetting news to soap fans, Procter & Gamble Productions and CBS have confirmed that Emmy winning actor Benjamin Hendrickson (Hal Munson) passed away suddenly over the weekend. Hendrickson was 55.

CBS has launched a new broadband channel that will feature an original web-based reality show revolving around the Emmy-winning daytime drama, As the World Turns. The series, called INTURN, will profile eight young performers who are competing to win a 13-week contract on As the World Turns.

Over the past few months, As the World Turns' writing team has been carefully playing its cards and devising a way for Craig Montgomery to return to Oakdale. Viewers have long speculated that Craig's return was imminent. However, these same fans may not have expected that the show has also been devising a way to recast the part.

Earlier this year soapcentral.com first reported that Hogan Sheffer would be taking over as head writer of NBC's Days of our Lives in August. At the time, the network had no official comment. Now, almost two months later, a DAYS spokesperson has confirmed that multiple Emmy-winner Sheffer has joined the show.

As the World Turns will be bringing back Adam Hughes later this month. The character, last seen in Oakdale four years ago, will return with a Tony-nominated actor in the role.

Earlier this year, the daytime community was devastated by the sudden death of As the World Turns star Benjamin Hendrickson (Hal Munson). Since that time fans have been wondering how the show will address the actor's real-life deal on the show.

After less than one month as As the World Turns' Adam Munson, newcomer Matthew J. Morrison (Adam Munson) has exited the show. The decision is said to be mutual, but the abruptness has caught many fans off guard.

Fresh off a short-lived return to Days of our Lives, Austin Peck (Austin Reed) is packing up and heading east to CBS's As the World Turns. Peck has landed a part as a member of a core family on CBS's As the World Turns.

As The World Turns' hunk factor is about to shrink. Two of the show's leading men - Mark Collier (Mike Kasnoff) and Paul Leyden (Simon Frasier) - will be exiting the show in the upcoming weeks.