CBS's "As the World Turns" spun quickly through Pittsburgh yesterday to film scenes for its current sudsy story line: After Jack (Michael Park) accidentally shoots and kills his brother (Austin Peck), he leaves Oakdale, Ill., to go on a soul-searching mission -- the "Never Surrender Tour" -- to track down Simon (Paul Leyden), the con man ex-husband of his brother's widow.

Carly (Maura West), Jack's ex-wife, joins him in the search that eventually leads him to Pittsburgh. And FYI for those who do not turn with the "World" every day: Jack and Carly were (and once again will be?) a daytime soap super-couple.

Unlike prime-time shows that bring a crew of more than 100 for longer shoots, "ATWT" had fewer than two dozen behind-the-scenes folks moving quickly, perhaps none faster than executive producer/director Christopher Goutman.

Not only did he call "Action," he also put foam mats in the street in front of the Mattress Factory on the North Side for a scene of Jack almost getting hit by a car (Carly tackles him to push him out of the way). No stunt people necessary. Park and West shot the scene in one take, landing squarely on the black mats.

"I feel like Jerome Bettis," Park said. "Write that down. A little Pittsburgh humor."

A man inside 500 Jacksonia Way aimed a camera at the daytime drama from a second story window as Park and West got up so the mats could be removed for a close-up of them on the pavement.

"This street smells a little bit like urine," West said, wrinkling her nose.

"But it tastes great," Park quickly added.

Piled on top of each other, lying in the street, the actors laughed easily. In the next scene of the pair getting up and dusting themselves off, West flubbed her line and both actors instinctively returned to their starting position on their knees, no direction necessary.

In 90 minutes, the cast and crew filmed six scenes usually in one or two takes each. For a prime-time show, six scenes could take at least one full day of production.

Goutman earned an MFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon in 1976. His mother was from Clairton and he has relatives in McKeesport. He said Pittsburgh was one of three cities on the show's itinerary away from its usual New York home base (Philadelphia and Greenville, S.C., were the others).

"Pittsburgh has always been very welcoming to the show, and it's a good town for 'As the World Turns,' " Goutman said. The soap previously shot scenes in Pittsburgh in 2002.

In advance of this trip, "ATWT" held an open casting call locally in September. Amadeo Fusca, a May graduate of Park Point University's theater program, landed a speaking role as a museum curator.

"You see how quick they move," Fusca said. "This has been a huge learning experience for me today."

Annie Heise, a sophomore in CMU's drama program, skipped classes for her scene at a party filmed inside the Mattress Factory.

"My teachers are excited for me," she said. "It's good for my resume."

With Goutman's familiarity with Pittsburgh, it's not surprising that yesterday's first scene was filmed at CMU. Other locations included Charles Spiegel for Men in Squirrel Hill, New Hope United Methodist Church on the North Side and the Clark Bar & Grill on the North Shore.

With the September end of CBS's "Guiding Light" -- replaced by a cheaper-to-produce game show -- daytime soaps have had a few of their bubbles burst as ratings decline and they dwindle in number. When times are tough, it makes sense to play from a place of strength and a super-couple is certainly a logical spot to return to for a daytime soap.

"Everything we do is to goose the ratings," Goutman acknowledged between scenes yesterday. "What do you think we're in this for? But these two, Jack and Carly, have a magic chemistry and everyone shares our fans' opinion.

"There are always going to be obstacles but we want to signal the audience that this is the beginning of the next stage of their relationship," Goutman said. "We're directing these two characters toward each other."

"ATWT" (2 p.m. weekdays, KDKA-TV) will incorporate the Pittsburgh-shot scenes in four episodes that will air Nov. 20-25.

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