affiliates began preempting the program in favor of cartoons, syndicated programming (including game shows, sitcom reruns, variety shows or talk shows), old movies, and sometimes locally-produced content. Perhaps the nail in Somerset's coffin came when ABC acquired The Edge of Night from CBS in December 1975 due to CBS' expansion of As the World Turns to an hour in length, itself a response of sorts to NBC eleven months earlier expanding Another World to a full hour and its NBC sister soap Days of Our Lives likewise three months later, with both expansions being successful. ABC placed The Edge of Night against Somerset in the 4:00 p.m. time slot. Although Somerset's ratings had improved during its final year, under the guidance of new head writer Robert J. Shaw, they were ultimately not enough to save the program from cancellation. NBC announced the cancellation of the program in the fall of 1976, and the show aired for the 1,710th and final time on New Year's Eve. Somerset'''s place on the NBC daytime schedule was given to The Gong Show, which became a popular-culture phenomenon eventually. The latter series' timeslot, 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Central), was given to a new Procter and Gamble-packaged soap, Lovers and Friends which would later be retooled into For Richer, For Poorer. Both shows fared worse in the ratings than Somerset.Somerset, along with ABC's The Best of Everything and A World Apart, marked the last time that more than two American network daytime serials premiered on the same date. Neither of the ABC shows lasted past 1971. After the final episode aired on December 31, 1976, the following message was transmitted: Cast More than 150 actors appeared on Somerset over its near-seven-year run. Other performers in the cast indlude Humbert Allen Astredo: Joe Bruno (1970) Bibi Besch: Eve Lawrence (1973–76) Gene Bua: Steve Slade (1976) Joel Crothers: Julian Cannell (1972–76) Ted Danson: Tom Conway (1974–76) Veleka Gray: Victoria Paisley (1975–76) Harriet Hall: Andrea Moore (1972–74) Barry Jenner: Tony Cooper #2 (1974–76) Lois Kibbee: Emily Moore Matson (1972–73) Audrey Landers: Heather Lawrence (1974–76) Michael Nouri: Tom Conway (1976) James O'Sullivan: Dr. Jerry Kane (1974–76) Jameson Parker: Dale Robinson (1976) Christopher Pennock: Dana Moore (1972–73) Jane Rose: Becky Winkle (1974–75) Frank Schofield: Philip Matson (1972–73) Richard Shoberg: Mitch Farmer (1971–72) Tina Sloan: Kate Cannell (1974–76) Lois Smith: Zoe Cannell (1972–73) Sigourney Weaver: Avis Ryan (1976) JoBeth Williams: Carrie Wheeler