Days Of Our Lives
Alison Sweeney Talks Her Emotional Final Tape Day At DAYS, How The Door Is Left Open For A Return, Her New Book Scared Scriptless on Access Hollywood Live!
Courtesy/AccessHollywood.com
Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) was a guest on Access Hollywood Live today promoting her new novel in stores now Scared Scriptless! While speaking with hosts Billy Bush and Kit Hoover, the subject of Sweeney’s departure after nearly 22 years from Days of our Lives was discussed.
In an emotional moment as Alison was recounting what went down on her final tape day at DAYS, Kit asked her if she was scared or nervous about moving on with her career which did not include playing Sami to which Sweeney answered: “I’m not scared. I’m sad, but I know that I will miss Sami. And I will miss my friends and the family that I have at the DAYS set… They’re my family and I’ve been doing it for almost 22 years.”
As to how the show will be writing off Sami, Alison confirmed again that the door will be left open for a possible return down the line should she want to at some point return to the soap opera: “Yes, the door is open. There’s potential. And I hope I come back — I would love to.”
Days Of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes
After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.
Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.
“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider, “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”
Photo: JPI
It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.
“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”
Photo: JPI
Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized. “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”
Photo: JPI
As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.
So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.
Breaking News
Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R
On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.
According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.
During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Photo: JPI
Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.
Photo: JPI
At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.
If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.
Breaking News
(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
After exciting morning for your favorite daytime stars when they were revealed to be nominees for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards comes tonight 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special.
Beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, several of the nominees will talk with Michael Fairman on their reactions to the news they have been nominated for a Daytime Emmy, share what scenes they submitted that landed in the top five or six in their respective performer acting categories and much more.
Scheduled to appear are: Days of our Lives nominees, Tamara Braun (Ava), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), The Young and the Restless nominees: Allison Lanier (Summer), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Courtney Hope (Sally), Bryton James (Devon), The Bold and the Beautiful’s John McCook (Eric), General Hospital nominees, Finola Hughes (Anna) and Alley Mills (Heather), and The Bay’s Mike Manning (Caleb).
Photo: JPI
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th and emanating, once again this year from the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Photo: JPI
For a full list of this year’s nominations click here.
Now, watch below as the stars chat it up as we celebrate their Daytime Emmy Nominations. If you have a potential question you might want posed to any of our guests, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on air.
Sean Kanan’s Stepdaughter, Juliet Vega, to Appear on The Bold and the Beautiful
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix
‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations: CBS Soaps Score Most, Eric Braeden, Dick Van Dyke, Guy Pearce Receive Nods
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
AEW Dynasty: Swerve Strickland Becomes AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Perry Returns, Will Ospreay Retires Move After Scary Finish
GH’s Finola Hughes Chats on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, New Directions for Characters in Port Charles, and Anna’s Love Life
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General HospitalApril 21, 2024‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
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General HospitalApril 15, 2024General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
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NewsApril 20, 2024The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
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RecapsApril 14, 2024Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
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Days Of Our LivesApril 19, 2024Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
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Days Of Our LivesApril 14, 2024Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
I hope if she ever returns as a guest or full time they write something far better than what they have done with the sad, pathetic, pointless return of John Black…Days is still the best of the four remaining soaps but its starting to loose some steam…imo…hopefully that will change with Eves arrival and Kristens return…could care less if Rafe, Jordan and Ben left town…this trios storyline is very slow and going nowhere for me…nuBen wouldve made a better Chad!!! Come on American producers and writers…check out Britains Coronation Street and see how a great soap is done…you can see it on youtube if not in your area…bet our soaps would do better if they were more like Britains character driven close to real life plotlines!!!…IMO!!!
I have a feeling Sami will be back occasionally for guest visits around the holidays, etc. And then in about five years or so, she’ll come back full time.
I’m glad that they are leaving the door open for her to come back for special events and things down the road.
I want to know what item she stole from the Days set! They never addressed it in the clip (that I saw).
Haha!
Okay what did she take from the set that she wasn’t supposed to? Gave the tease and never got back to it– LOL. But the sounds of it she isn’t slowing down any, but after 22 years of doing anything, don’t blame for wanting to take a break. Have no idea how they write her off since the story is so far in the future– maybe they will have her become a PI and her first case is to track down Bo, but she disappears along with him.
I certainly wish her all the best. She is a dynamo with being a busy career woman, wife and mother!! With regards to the character of Sami I feel differently. Maybe its because she was written as such a one note psychopath under Jim Reilly’s pen…I have never been a big fan of the character. The last year or so I have liked her the most I ever have. But with that said…I feel it is a good time for her to go. The show is in good shape with both veterans and newcomers and her exit will not leave a gaping void. No doubt she will be back next year in some form for the shows’s 50th. We will see her again!
I Will miss Sami only! Good luck AS! I defiantly think when Sami comes back we will finally get a LUMI REUNION!!!!!! Sami belongs with lucas not her obsessive stalking sick rapist
Good story. Now, give us stories of Kassie DePaiva’s debut and the return of Eileen Davidson!!
I’m not a huge fan of Sami Brady; but, I admire Ali Sweeney a lot. She is very driven, focused, and successful. I admire those qualities in a woman. I also admire how honest she appears to be about being a working wife and mother. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors!
Glad they will leave the door open for her to visit periodically. She was a central character, and seeing her once in awhile will add a spark and pizazz when the show needs a little bit of a boost. I hope the show will still be on in 5 years, and it would be fine to have her come back, but one never knows if the show will be on that long, and also Allison may be on to many other projects and venues. With all of the said, I wish Allison all of the best she seems to be a dynamo!