In ceremonies held last night in Los Angeles, NBC’s Days of our Lives took home the honors as the Outstanding Daily Drama at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards!
The GLAAD awards pay tribute to “inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.” The event, hosted by actress-producer-director Drew Barrymore, and included Hollywood favorites: Charlize Theron, Betty White, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
DAYS Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis) accepted the award on behalf of Days of our Lives for Sonny and Will’s (Chandler Massey) love story and its portrayal and representation of a same-sex storyline and the couple’s struggles from: coming out to gay hate crimes and bullying.
Also in attendance from DAYS were Freddie’s on-screen father, Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis), Kate Mansi ( Abigail) and Nathan Owens (Cameron). Days of our Lives bested the other nominee in the category, The Bold and the Beautiful who were in the running for their representation of their first same-sex storyline with the “My Two Moms” story featuring Crystal Chappell (Dani) and Joanna Johnson (Karen) and their on-screen daughter, Linsey Godrey (Caroline).
Other big winners of the night included: NBC’s The New Normal for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Mini-Series or Special went to FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum created by Ryan Murphy.
Former President Bill Clinton accepted the Advocate for Change Award and delivered an inspiring speech to those in attendance. Clinton’s accolade was presented to him by Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Harvey Weinstein!
So what do you think of DAYS win for its portrayal of an LGBT storyline? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Huge congratulations to DAYS and everyone involved with their LGBT storyline. While I may have agreed with everything concerning the storyline, such as Nick being involved, the writers have been doing an amazing job with handling it with care and new ways unlike the other soaps who ventured into their own storylines.
They’ve treated Will and Sonny as a true soap couple, and not like a special subject that shouldn’t be touched. I have been enjoying DAYS for years, and really feel like for the over-all, their storylines have been brilliant. Doesn’t mean some bumps have been in the road or are still in the bump, but they’re really doing a great job!
gene
11 years ago
Awesome! DAYS has been doing it right with this storyline – even with the Gabi pregnacy bump in the road. Hopefully Will & Sonny will be a part of Salem for a long time.
As a newer viewer, and an advocate for equality, DAYS has done a GREAT job-even with the negative portrayal of Nick. Kudos
Ces
11 years ago
Congrats Days! About the only storyline worthy of watching is Will & Sonny!
kay
11 years ago
I commend Days of our Lives for creating and writing this storyline involving Will and Sonny (portrayed by actors Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith). This storyline is what drew me to Days of our Lives after many years of not watching daytime soap operas. I loved the characters of Will and Sonny from the first time they met in June 2011 when Sonny came back to Salem and as Will struggled with and finally realized he was gay with the help of his friend and mentor Sonny. Then when they both realized that their feelings for each other had changed into love and they became a couple. Freddie and Chandler are doing an amazing job of making the relationship of Sonny and Will as realistic and believable as possible. I hope the writers will continue to tell this story as truthfully and honestly as possible. This is a love story between two people who care about each other and are committed to making a life together. Love is love. Embrace it and live it.
Congratulations to everyone at Days of our Lives for winning this award again this year (Outstanding Daytime Drama) especially the writers and the actors who are involved.
icla
11 years ago
Amazing that DAYS won the ODD award again! So happy for Freddie and Chandler! It’s one thing to have a (mostly) well written storyline, and another to have two young totally committed actors who show us Sonny and Will’s story as realistically as possible. Wonderful!
daryl
11 years ago
Congratulations to the team of Days for their successful gay storyline. I’m all the way from the Philippines and I have to say that I only started to watch the show because of Will and Sonny although I remember the show being televised here about 20 years ago. Also, I would really like to thank Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey for portraying their characters really well, believable, and with love. Even if this is just a TV show, you don’t know how much you have inspired me, as well as other people (gay or straight), around the world. So again, thank you for bainging Will and Sonny and their beautiful story to life. This is a very well-deserved award. Congratulations and more power to the staff and actors of Days.
Jules
11 years ago
Hell yeah they did! Well deserved! Kudos to the writers, producers, Corday and of course Chandler, Freddie and everyone else involved for giving this storyline the weight, the airtime, the care and the opportunity it has earned.
Mattsnplace
11 years ago
I am SO glad (excuse the pun) to see the show that deserves to win actually WIN! The writers need to make the rest of Days as good as this SL. If they could do that, then Days would be around for a long, long time. Still, kudos to the show for well-deserved win!
Derrick
11 years ago
Congrats DAYS!!!!
Well deserved!
Jacob
11 years ago
we need a sonny and will on ANC .OLTL.GH,Y&R,DAYS,since its on the internet I always hate how they start a gay storyline then stop assoon as they come out or make love for the first time congrats to days for kepping sonny and will around. I hope AMC,OLTL,GH,DAYS, Y&R takes a note and we see that on there as well, because to many times shows have a habit of just make us gay couples look shallow, and dont show us in the same light as stright couples and that is so unfair, Ihave been in a relationship for going on about two years and daysof our lives story lineshowed me it wasok to be my self. So I cant’t wait to see AMC,OLTL GH, Y&R Days and to see how it all unfolds. THERE needs to be more people with disabilitys on soaps
Brett
11 years ago
Well done DAYS. They so deserve this award, the storyline has been handled brilliantly and unlike other soap gay couples, they act like a couple all the time and the show hasn’t shyed away from romantic scenes. It has been the best gay storyline ever. I’m so glad they beat B&B’s crappy half baked lesbian story.
Blake
11 years ago
Great that Days won, out of all the soaps they definitely deserve it!
And I’m glad to see that American Horror Story won for Oustanding Mini Series, LOVE that show!
Vera Farmiga – who plays the mother: Norma…. is Fascinating, to watch.
she reminds me of the combo…. Sally Kirkland/Felicity Huffman/Peggy Lipton.
the added older son… is HOT.
along with the two cops…
the one cop who is “corralling the twosome”…. blond cop is weathering his own storm.
it’s inriguing stuff to mind.
Dmitri
11 years ago
So glad they won. DOOL sucks except for these two!
Patrick
11 years ago
my heart and mind… are free’er.
at the tender age i am…. it’s touching…. affecting…. to watch and linger with the story…. a couple in love… unrequited… dealing… with life… like all twosomes…. fraught with the same energy…. complexities… the romance…. LOVING.
—————————
watching these two SHARE their life… openly… with family and “out”… is to applaud and acknowledge how well done this is written.
Thank you DAYS/NBC/SONY.
you deserve the accolade and continued success.
mike leigh
11 years ago
I have wathch days of our lives for over 43 yrs and always loved the horton storylines.
The gay storyline between Will Horton and Sonny is one of the best. I love seeing them
in sceens and hope their love continues. Years ago I watch One life to live and enjoyed
the storyline of gay men of Kyle and Oliver, I was very upset when the storyline was cut
and the actors were let go. I hope this does not happen with Will and Sonny on days of
our lives.
‘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.
Photos: CBS and JPI
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).
Photo: MEastonFacebook
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).
Courtesy/LaceyGorden
“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.
Photo: SUTC
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.
Huge congratulations to DAYS and everyone involved with their LGBT storyline. While I may have agreed with everything concerning the storyline, such as Nick being involved, the writers have been doing an amazing job with handling it with care and new ways unlike the other soaps who ventured into their own storylines.
They’ve treated Will and Sonny as a true soap couple, and not like a special subject that shouldn’t be touched. I have been enjoying DAYS for years, and really feel like for the over-all, their storylines have been brilliant. Doesn’t mean some bumps have been in the road or are still in the bump, but they’re really doing a great job!
Awesome! DAYS has been doing it right with this storyline – even with the Gabi pregnacy bump in the road. Hopefully Will & Sonny will be a part of Salem for a long time.
Glaad Days won!
Ha!
As a newer viewer, and an advocate for equality, DAYS has done a GREAT job-even with the negative portrayal of Nick. Kudos
Congrats Days! About the only storyline worthy of watching is Will & Sonny!
I commend Days of our Lives for creating and writing this storyline involving Will and Sonny (portrayed by actors Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith). This storyline is what drew me to Days of our Lives after many years of not watching daytime soap operas. I loved the characters of Will and Sonny from the first time they met in June 2011 when Sonny came back to Salem and as Will struggled with and finally realized he was gay with the help of his friend and mentor Sonny. Then when they both realized that their feelings for each other had changed into love and they became a couple. Freddie and Chandler are doing an amazing job of making the relationship of Sonny and Will as realistic and believable as possible. I hope the writers will continue to tell this story as truthfully and honestly as possible. This is a love story between two people who care about each other and are committed to making a life together. Love is love. Embrace it and live it.
Congratulations to everyone at Days of our Lives for winning this award again this year (Outstanding Daytime Drama) especially the writers and the actors who are involved.
Amazing that DAYS won the ODD award again! So happy for Freddie and Chandler! It’s one thing to have a (mostly) well written storyline, and another to have two young totally committed actors who show us Sonny and Will’s story as realistically as possible. Wonderful!
Congratulations to the team of Days for their successful gay storyline. I’m all the way from the Philippines and I have to say that I only started to watch the show because of Will and Sonny although I remember the show being televised here about 20 years ago. Also, I would really like to thank Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey for portraying their characters really well, believable, and with love. Even if this is just a TV show, you don’t know how much you have inspired me, as well as other people (gay or straight), around the world. So again, thank you for bainging Will and Sonny and their beautiful story to life. This is a very well-deserved award. Congratulations and more power to the staff and actors of Days.
Hell yeah they did! Well deserved! Kudos to the writers, producers, Corday and of course Chandler, Freddie and everyone else involved for giving this storyline the weight, the airtime, the care and the opportunity it has earned.
I am SO glad (excuse the pun) to see the show that deserves to win actually WIN! The writers need to make the rest of Days as good as this SL. If they could do that, then Days would be around for a long, long time. Still, kudos to the show for well-deserved win!
Congrats DAYS!!!!
Well deserved!
we need a sonny and will on ANC .OLTL.GH,Y&R,DAYS,since its on the internet I always hate how they start a gay storyline then stop assoon as they come out or make love for the first time congrats to days for kepping sonny and will around. I hope AMC,OLTL,GH,DAYS, Y&R takes a note and we see that on there as well, because to many times shows have a habit of just make us gay couples look shallow, and dont show us in the same light as stright couples and that is so unfair, Ihave been in a relationship for going on about two years and daysof our lives story lineshowed me it wasok to be my self. So I cant’t wait to see AMC,OLTL GH, Y&R Days and to see how it all unfolds. THERE needs to be more people with disabilitys on soaps
Well done DAYS. They so deserve this award, the storyline has been handled brilliantly and unlike other soap gay couples, they act like a couple all the time and the show hasn’t shyed away from romantic scenes. It has been the best gay storyline ever. I’m so glad they beat B&B’s crappy half baked lesbian story.
Great that Days won, out of all the soaps they definitely deserve it!
And I’m glad to see that American Horror Story won for Oustanding Mini Series, LOVE that show!
another show…. if you have cable… sounds like you might…. is “Bates Motel”
on A&E….
it’s a study in contrast….. mystique….. between Mother and Son…
Norma and Norman Bates…..
a lot of shows have since aired…. this is the first season….
it’s catchy and draws you in…..
FYI.
Vera Farmiga – who plays the mother: Norma…. is Fascinating, to watch.
she reminds me of the combo…. Sally Kirkland/Felicity Huffman/Peggy Lipton.
the added older son… is HOT.
along with the two cops…
the one cop who is “corralling the twosome”…. blond cop is weathering his own storm.
it’s inriguing stuff to mind.
So glad they won. DOOL sucks except for these two!
my heart and mind… are free’er.
at the tender age i am…. it’s touching…. affecting…. to watch and linger with the story…. a couple in love… unrequited… dealing… with life… like all twosomes…. fraught with the same energy…. complexities… the romance…. LOVING.
—————————
watching these two SHARE their life… openly… with family and “out”… is to applaud and acknowledge how well done this is written.
Thank you DAYS/NBC/SONY.
you deserve the accolade and continued success.
I have wathch days of our lives for over 43 yrs and always loved the horton storylines.
The gay storyline between Will Horton and Sonny is one of the best. I love seeing them
in sceens and hope their love continues. Years ago I watch One life to live and enjoyed
the storyline of gay men of Kyle and Oliver, I was very upset when the storyline was cut
and the actors were let go. I hope this does not happen with Will and Sonny on days of
our lives.