This week on Days of our Lives, Dr. Rolf returns to the long-running NBC soap opera. However, he will look different, because the role is being played by actor Richard Wharton.
As longtime DAYS fans know, mad scientist, Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, had previously been played by veteran character actor, William Utay.
According to the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest, Wharton will make his DAYS debut on the Friday, July 22nd episode.
Utay was unavailable at the time of the taping of these episodes, thus requiring a recast.
Within the history of his story, Dr. Rolf started out as sort of a medical henchman for the late Stefano DiMera, when the character made its debuted in 1997. Rolf was killed-off in 2003, but then as most people do in Salem and on DAYS, he came back from the dead in 2007. Since that time, Dr. Rolf has developed devastating drug concoctions, wild experiments, plus resurrected many from the dead.
As for Wharton, he may look very familiar to primetime TV fans having appeared on: Nip/Tuck, Will and Grace, Bones, The Mentalist, American Crime Story, to name just a few.
What trouble will Dr. Rolf cause on his return to Salem? Share your theories via the comment section below.
Well… I doubt he will be bringing Abigail back right away… though Chad might ask him to do so.
I would think that Rolf might be working with our latest DiMera escapee from Hell, Megan Hathaway, though he didn’t appear to be in the room when she thawed out the “Bo-sicle”
I got this feeling that Abby will be back.I wish it would be Marci though.
JOHN GAINOR
1 year ago
It doesn’t matter if they recast Dr Rolf – he’s not that critical a character really…and Lord knows they’ve recast so many other roles on the show. Off topic, I think they should have re-cast Abigail rather than just Killing her off…..it served no purpose really.
I felt the same. Why kill off a core character because the current actres can no longer play the part. In the past , when an actor/actress could not continue, they would recast. Why couldn’t they do that this time?
Maybe because they had been playing “musical chairs” with the two different actresses for the last several years, and they suddenly found themselves unable to keep either of them on board. And knowing that 99% of the recasts have sucked dragon ass since ReRon has been writing the show, didn’t want to take a chance on a rookie Abigail right now.
Could have been worse…. I have a pretty good idea who ReRon would think of as an Abigail recast, and if he did that, I’d have to stop watching, because that no-talent twit damn near killed GH when he forced her on to that show. No names mentioned, but I think everybody knows who I’m talking about.
I was referring to the annoying little talentless Manning child StarrTwit, who ReRon forced into GH for no good reason at all, so she could spend an entire year crying about a dead kid and an escaped criminal boyfriend whom nobody in Port Charles knew or cared about – and then, once the legal hassles over the online version of OLTL manifested themselves, rather than letting this idiotic character go, he rebranded her as “Kiki”, a character that only gained any sort of credibility when the no-talent twit finally left the show (rumored to be because of her real life breakup with Chad “Mikey” Duell) and was recast with somebody who could actually act.
Lulu’s not a twit, though I definitely preferred Julie Berman’s original over Emme’s version.
Satan
Thanks for the explanation I’d forgotten about her and sorry about LuLu, I guess we all see people differently. Here’s a good example, like you feel about “Frod”, and a lot of us like him.
Violet, I’m with you and Satan here. Both Starr and Lulu are/were eminently annoying. I liked Emme as Lizzie Spaulding on GL but I’ve never liked trouble-making Lulu so Emme didn’t get much of a chance with me. Plus, she kind of reminded me of Cousin Itt from THE ADDAMS FAMILY T.V. series.
Seven
1 year ago
Recast of Dr. Rolf is alright being it is only temporary due to William Utay being unavailable at the moment.
However.. that being said.. much like The Highlander.. “There can be only one” local mad scientist of residence in Salem and that is the Dr. Wilhelm Rolf we have all known and enjoyed despising for decades now.. the original.. William Utay.
Do not get it twisted DOOL.
You already made a major faux pas in killing off legacy character Abigail.. one I sincerely hope to see rectified in time and in true DOOL fashion.
Meanwhile.. the misadventures of Milo and Clyde are sure to prove very entertaining.
The Clyde/Nancy pairing is endearing.. would be nice to see Clyde display a bit of chivalry towards his new lady.. perhaps doling out a bit of retribution to notorious Leo after discovery of the infamous wig snatching incident in the town square.
Tres gallant!!
They should’ve just waited till hw was available I doubt the storyline was that important they couldn’t wait a few weeks there are some characters you can’t replace especially Stefano I’ll quit if they do that the steve incarnation waa bad enough
It’s hard to say exactly what Kristin’s plans for Rolfie are, but it’s got nothing to do with Stefano. The brain chipped Steve was a 666% failure, and not even ReRon is dumb enough to believe that Stefano can actually be recast…. though he wasn’t above doing a “head fake” on the possibility in the recent Peacock spinoff, at least for those who didn’t figure out what Megan’s agenda truly was, early on. (which should have been obvious enough to anybody who remembered who she was obsessed with back in the 80s).
Rumors here in Hell is that Kristin might enlist Rolf’s help in some odd business involving her little brother Jake in the very near future. If you have seen next week’s preview clips, you may already know that Jake has an unfortunate run in with some armed idiot. So he could be the upcoming death that ReRon referred to in his recent interview with Michael…. although he is a DiMera and deaths are rarely “final” in that family.
‘Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit For Stand Up To Cancer’ Live Virtual Event Announced; Featuring Soap Opera Notables and Moving Tributes
May 2, 2024
Stand Up to Cancer in collaboration with Alan Locher and Michael Fairman, will come together for a a three-hour livestream benefit, Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story.
Several stars from from daytime drama television past and present are scheduled to participate for an evening of stories of emotional on- and off-screen experiences with cancer, and moving tributes to beloved daytime favorites who lost their battle plus musical performances.
Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story, streams live on Thursday, May 16, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/5 to 8 pm PT simultaneously on StandUpToCancer.org and YouTube channels The Locher Room and Michael Fairman Channel.
Tune-in for cancer survivorship stories with General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison and The Young and the Restless’ Colleen Zenk, who will reflect on the impact of publicly sharing their diagnoses; 2024 Daytime Emmy nominee Eric Braeden, who shares his cancer journey as well his memories of beloved The Young and the Restless co-star Meg Bennett, who passed from cancer April 11; and more.
Moving tributes to soap stars who’ve lost their cancer battles, including: Daytime icon Jackie Zeman, who played nurse Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital for 45 years, shared by daughters Cassidy MacLeod and Lacey Gorden, a tribute to Elizabeth Hubbard who played the iconic Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns and Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors, as shared by her on-screen daughter Martha Byrne and real-life son Jeremy Bennett, two-time Emmy Award-winner Jerry verDorn (Guiding LightOne Life to Live), shared by widow Beth verDorn and his on-screen wife on Guiding Light, friend and co-star Liz Keife, the iconic Andrea Evans, who played Tina Lord Roberts on One Life to Live, shared by her husband Stephen G. Rodriguez and daughter Kylie Rodriguez and Kamar de los Reyes shared by his One Life to Live co-stars Michael Easton(General Hospital)Trevor St. John (The Young and the Restless).
Poignant reflections from actors who have portrayed breast cancer survivors, including Sharon Case and Eileen Davidson from The Young and the Restless; Erika Slezak from One Life to Live; Tina Sloan and Kim Zimmer from Guiding Light and more.
Additional talent slated to participate in the virtual benefit include (*subject to change): Eddie and Kristen Alderson (One Life to Live); Elia Cantu (Days of Our Lives); The Day Players, Featuring Days of OurLives castmates Carson Boatman, Brandon Barash, Wally Kurth (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee), Eric Martsolf (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee); Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live); Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful); Linsey Godfrey (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, Days of Our Lives); Leo Howard (Days of Our Lives); LesliKay (The Bold and the Beautiful); Eden McCoy (General Hospital); Kin Shriner (GeneralHospital); Michelle Stafford (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, The Young and the Restless).
“Daytime television invites viewers into the private lives of characters, often bringing important issues like cancer screenings into living rooms and around water coolers. Soaps debuted the first cancer storyline in 1962 – years before the topic was discussed in the mainstream, and it left an indelible impact: a whole generation of women who scheduled a potentially life-saving Pap smear for the first time,” said Daytime Stands Up host Alan Locher. “For so many viewers, this brought the issue front and center,” added co-host Michael Fairman. “Today, it’s become almost impossible to avoid; but there is hope with cancer research, thanks to organizations like Stand Up To Cancer.”
SU2C Co-Founder Sue Schwartz, SU2C President and CEO Julian Adams, Ph.D., and SU2C Health Equity Committee Member Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., will also participate to speak to the importance of early detection, exciting scientific breakthroughs, and the ongoing work yet to be done to make screenings and treatment equitable for all.
“This year, an estimated 2 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, presenting an opportunity for the public to stand with us and rise to the occasion,” said Adams. “We’re thankful to Alan Locher, Michael Fairman and our friends from the daytime television community, who will raise critical funding to honor those we’ve lost – and to propel new scientific breakthroughs for current and future patients. Everyone has a story, and we’re grateful to all of you for sharing yours.”
For over 15 years, SU2C has leveraged its relationship with the entertainment community – which includes more than 1,100 celebrity ambassadors – to generate public donations, increase awareness and fund cutting-edge cancer research. SU2C research has contributed to the development of more than 10 scientific breakthroughs that have significantly impacted the field and provided new treatment options for breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, pediatric and prostate cancers.
In support of the event, SU2C will also be launching a 10-day eBay silent auction, from May 16 through 26, for fans to bid on items, including a meet-and-greet experience with the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives; an autographed script from the cast of Young and Restless and signed merchandise from the Bold and Beautiful cast; a 1:1 video call with General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros, Maura West and Laura Wright, and with daytime legends Robert Newman, Vincent Irizarry, Colleen Zenk, and more. Full details will be shared the evening of May 16, on Stand Up To Cancer’s website.
Are you looking forward to this very special one-night only virtual event to help benefit cancer research and shed light on the stories, performances and lives of the people we love and have loved in daytime TV? Comment below.
Deidre Hall to Guest Star on Season 3 of Comedy Series ‘Hacks’
May 1, 2024
Days of our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) is set to play a version of herself on third season of Hacks. Look for Hall this month in an episode titled “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular,” to air on May 23 on Max.
Not only will Hall appear in the episode, but so too, will Back to the Future and Taxi star, Christopher Lloyd.
According to EW.com, Deidre will play “a fictional version of herself, who just so happens to be the mom of Paul W. Downs’ Jimmy.”
Photo: JPI
Hacks co-creator and Downs’ wife, Lucia Aniello shared on Hall’s casting, “It made sense to us that Jimmy’s late father, a big-time manager, would have been married to an actress. When the idea for Deidre Hall came up, it just felt right.”
As for Lloyd, he will portray, reclusive writer Larry Arbuckle, who is to have had a rather famous grandfather. In the episode, Hall and Lloyd’s character intersect, which leads to onscreen sparks.
Photo: AP
“We had written some things that were flirty, but the chemistry was palpable,” says co-creator and series star, Downs shared. Hacks stars Jean Smart as comedy legend Deborah Vance.
Photo: Max
Season 3 of Hacks debuts on Thursday night May 2nd on Max 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.
So, will you be watching Deidre Hall guest starring on Hacks? Comment below.
Peacock Raising Subscription Prices $2 Dollars a Month This Summer; Includes Days of our Lives
April 30, 2024
As the Paris Summer Olympics are a few months away, the Peacock streaming service has revealed its plan for a two dollar summer price hike on its subscription plans, beginning in July for its content which will include Days of our Lives.
According to Deadline, in July, look for the monthly price for Peacock Premium to increase to $7.99. Premium Plus, which offers limited advertising, download capability and live local programming, will now be $13.99, while Annual plans will go up to $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.
This price hike will effect new customers starting on July 18th, while existing subscribers will notice the price change on their next billing date on or before August 17th.
Photo: JPI
This marks the second price change in two years for the streaming service, the previous one being in 2023, which was the first since the service launched back in 2020. The Summer Olympics in Paris which will be on NBC and Peacock run from July 26 to August 11.
The bright spot for Days of our Lives fans, is that unlike if the show was still on network television and NBC, the show would be preempted for two weeks, but with it being on Peacock it will continue with all-new episodes without interruption.
Photo: Peacock
At the recent Days of our Lives 15K episode celebration, Michael Sluchan the EVP, Current Scripted Programming & Limited Series for NBC/Peacock shared that the soap opera is doing extremely well for the streaming service, and they were very happy with its performance.
If you want to join Peacock now, there is still some time to get in on the current rates to watch DAYS and all of the programming and series it offers.
So, what do you think about the Peacock streaming service next price hike? Comment below.
