WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, Michigan, which also became a CBS affiliate that year, initially ran the soap before dropping it in 1996 because of disappointing ratings. A pivotal character, off-and-on, until the spring of 1998, Roger Thorpe, was introduced on April 1, 1971. Marie was also feeling less than a woman, when it was learned she couldn't get pregnant, and adoptions were not easy to move along enough to satisfy Marie's maternal instincts. After giving birth to a still-born baby at age 19, she found spiritual comfort listening to the radio sermons of Preston Bradley, a famous Chicago preacher and founder of the People's Church, a church which promoted the brotherhood of man. CBS and the show's producers had hoped that the new look would increase ratings, but the plan was ultimately unsuccessful. It would continue to be broadcast concomitantly on radio until June 29, 1956. Jan and Ted did win custody of Chuckie, but at the time they did Mary told Jan (who revealed her true identity as Meta) that her mother "Mama" Bauer was ill with cancer and soon died and Papa was continuing to ask for her and to make amends to Meta for what had happened to drive Meta out of the household. Bert had dreams of climbing the social ladder and keeping up appearances, and it was up to Bill (and sometimes Papa Bauer) to bring her down to earth. Actress Lenore Kasdorf quit the show in 1981, and producers decided not to recast the role of Rita Stapleton Bauer, given how popular Kasdorf had been. CBS did so first by expanding Guiding Light on November 7, 1977. James, Ashlee, and Daisy leave Springfield and relocate to Santa Barbara, California. The song heard playing in the background during the final scene is "Together" by Michelle Branch.[14]. So Bob tried to woo her, by becoming as romantic as he could, but Kathy still didn't budge, but agreed to see Bob, even while she was dating Dick. Web. Bob Lang tried his best to take Kathy to bed with him, but the teenaged Kathy wisely continued to feel that might not be for the best, but Kathy's defenses were weakening where Bob was concerned. Dick agreed to adopt Robin, despite his mother's protest, but Kathy faced an internal infection that caused her to hallucinate that many people were out to get her, and actually one was out to get something of hers, her new second husband, Dr. Dick Grant. At the time of its cancellation in 2009, it was the longest-running soap opera in production. Kathy soon married her third and final husband Mark Holden. Bill was fired by the advertising agency due to all of this, and had to deal with a demanding Bert trying to get him to get another job, soon. Joe wanted to marry Meta, but Meta kept putting him off, feeling that if both of his children were not comfortable with her being their new stepmother (i.e., Kathy), she was unwilling to proceed with a marriage.