Days Of Our Lives
Brandan Barash Shares Reaction to Jake’s Death on Days of our Lives: “It Was Fun Getting To Know You”
This week on Days of our Lives, Jake (Brandon Barash) met his untimely demise, when he was shot by a mugger. Thus, signaling what would seem to be the end of the line for the character.
However, on today’s episode of the NBC soap opera, Jake visited a grieving Ava (Tamara Braun), so perhaps there is more than a ‘ghost of a chance’ that Barash is sticking around.

Photo: JPI
As previewed exclusively last month during our virtual interview with DAYS head writer, Ron Carlivati …the Salem scribe revealed there would be another death in Salem, following the murder of Abigail Deveraux DiMera (Marci Miller), and the character would be ‘dead-dead’.
However, speculation is running wild that with the return of Dr. Rolf, that perhaps Jake will be resurrected … or Barash will once again play Jake’s twin, Stefan O. DiMera!
On Instagram, Barash had some fun with Jake’s demise with comparison side-by-side photos – one of which features Barash as Jake covered in blood, and reading the Handbook for the Recently Deceased!
Barash captioned his pic: “How it started/how it’s going. #ripjake It was fun getting to know you. 🙏🥃”
So, what do you think about DAYS killing Jake? Do you think Brandon will be sticking around Salem? If so, as who? Comment below.
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I love Jake, but if they have to have him die I’m sure glad they kept that handsome face still on
I fear that ReRon is about to do something really stupid AGAIN….
It’s not a big secret that DiMeras have a habit of escaping from Hell. I pretty much expect it from them anymore… the only one who shocked me was Megan Hathaway, when she broke out recently, because she had been down here damn near 40 years with no previous escape attempts.
Now that said, it’s a little difficult to return to Earth with major organs missing – with or without Dr. Rolf’ s magical zombie serum – and as we all know, Stefan doesn’t have a heart… because Gabi gave it to Julie… and then held her “hostage” for months with pacemaker controlled by an app on Gabi’s phone.
Jake’s body… with a single bullet wound… may have bled out & coded in the hallway of the Salem University Hospital, but he would easily be a great candidate for the Rolf Zombie Serum. EJ, John Black, Jack Deveraux, and even Will Horton were arguably in worse shape than Jake, but Rolfie was able to bring them all back.
So here’s the Devil’s theory….
Jake is still going to be Jake. But Rolfie’s going to brain-chip him into believing he’s his twin brother Stefan. Why would they bother doing this? Despite being raised in completely different environments, the twin brothers pretty much ended up in the same place anyway. Feuds with the family & the family business.. the on/off thing with Gabi, etc. I don’t see any logical reason why the Stefan character is more worthy of keeping around than the Jake character at this point, and definitely NOT a FAKE “Stefan” who only exists via software.
And doing this all the same week that you have Justin’s oldest son Alex looking exactly like Ben (but nobody seeming to notice this) makes it all the more ridiculous.
If they wanted to drop a doppelganger character and bring back the original… why not bring back Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis and lose Bonnie Lockhart forever?
I think it stinks killing off Jake only to be replaced by that stuffed shirt Stefan.
Does that mean he’ll be back with Gabi? I almost quit watching after all these years when the Devil took over Salem, but I’ve been hanging in there as crazy as these recent SLs have been, but with Stefan and his hoochi mama back, Iam gone.
Jake is a very appealing character, given Brandon Barash’s portrayal. The introduction of Jake as Stefan’s twin was convoluted and contrived — some nonsense that briefly brought back Vivian. But there is more story to tell with this character, as he is.
Brandon is so cute!
I always liked Jake.I bet though he will be brought back alive by Doctor Ralph.H0w about Abby?
The new DAYS promo basically confirms that Brandon will be brought back in some form, whether as Jake in Stefan’s body or Stefan himself rising from the dead. And while I really like Brandon and wish he wasn’t killed off (twice!), DAYS is becoming borderline unwatchable these days.
Between the possession storyline (which was enjoyable at first but dragged on WAY too long), and all the characters being brought back from the dead (except for Adrienne, a character I would MUCH prefer having around over Bonnie), it’s plot-driven campiness. One or two characters being brought back from the dead every now and then, for story purposes, is fine. But it’s so hard to believe any character is truly dead (Abigail included) because nearly half the canvas has died and been resurrected at one point. It’s ridiculous.
I’d like to see DAYS return to more grounded, character-driven stories, though under Ron C. I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon. It’s as if he’s gotten more and more outlandish with each soap he’s helmed. OLTL was good under his tenure, he started off strong when he took over GH but slowly fizzled, and DAYS has turned into a hot mess.
It almost seems like Ron prefers writing Beyond Salem because of the fewer constraints that streaming has, and the stories can be as outlandish as possible. But for the mothership series, there’s just too much suspension of disbelief being asked for of the viewers.
I think Jake is telling Ava as he holds his stomach, “I told you to quit making that spicy food!”
Brandon is great and needs to stay we know where it’s headed but one thing I was disappointed about was gabis reaction she was in love with Jake and stormed in about business. Anyone else feel the same
Richard
Ordinarily yes but I’ve read, be it true or not she is in on this latest plot changing or whatever they are doing to bring back Stefan, the ” love of her life” ,show gets crazier and crazier.
Days Of Our Lives
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract

Four cast members are officially on contract at Days of our Lives, according to the soap opera’s closing credits on Peacock and longtime Days expert and historian Jason 47.
Lauren Koslow (Kate), Sydney Malakeh (Sydney), Sal Stowers (Lani) and Jacob Martinez (Javi) are the names that appear in the closing credits in the contracted cast members section. Days of our Lives fans also note that the series tapes ten months in advance of streaming episodes.
As Days of our Lives fans know, Lauren Koslow has played Kate Roberts since 1996, and recently filled-in for Jess Walton in the role of Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless when Walton was unable to travel from Oregon to Los Angeles during the specific tape dates. But now, Koslow has been re-upped to contract status as of the September 8 episode.

Photo: JPI
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Sydney Malakeh is the newest member of the contract players when she debuted on contract status on the September 10th episode. Days fans first met Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ’s (Dan Feuerriegel) daughter in scenes in Monte Carlo around a gambling table.
As for Sal Stowers, the actress had been on contract from 2015-2022, then on recurring status with the soap, and would make appearances and limited runs since 2023. Soap fans first saw Sal as Cassandra Foster on Prospect Park’s revival of All My Children in 2013. Sal’s first new contracted episode was noted to be September 16.
Jacob Martinez, debuted on June 30 of this year as the successor to Al Calderon in the role of Javi Hernandez, and has now been bumped up to series regular as of the September 10 episode.

Photo: JPI
CREDITS
According to the referenced posting from Days of our Lives expert and historian Jason 47, he shared, “It took me four weeks to realize, but the same week that Sydney Malakeh (Sydney) debuted (9/7-9/11), “Days” also put Lauren Koslow (Kate), Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi) and Sal Stowers (Lani) on contract.”
Jason47 added, “This confirms the “errors” of Lani being listed in the credits the week of 9/7 but not appearing, and Kate and Javi appearing in the credits the week of 9/14 but not appearing. It also now makes sense why Javi and Sydney are being listed before Rafe and Philip in the credits.”
He also shared, “For the record, Lauren Koslow’s first date back on contract was 9/8, Jacob Richard Martinez was upped to contract on 9/10, Sydney Malakeh debuted on contract 9/10 and Sal Stowers’ first date back on contract was 9/16. The records will be fixed on the website in the coming days.”
So, glad to hear Lauren, Sydney, Sal and Jacob appear to be on contract with Days of our Lives (as of these episode airings)? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Leo Howard Joins Cast for ‘Yellowjackets’ Fourth and Final Season

Yellowjackets announced its full cast and new additions for its upcoming fourth and final season. None other than Days of our Lives favorite Leo Howard (Tate Black) will be featured in an exciting and undisclosed role on the Paramount+ streaming series.
Howard’s casting comes after he was one of four Days of our Lives cast members pink-slipped from the Peacock soap opera back in January of 2026. Due to Days of our Lives advanced tape to streaming episodes, Leo is also still appearing on the soap.
Viewers will need to tune-in to see how Tate, Holly (Ashley Puzemis), Johnny (Carson Boatman) and Chanel’s (Raven Bowens) storylines resolve before they all exit the canvas. No word on when Howard’s last DAYS episode airs as of yet.

Photo: JPI
YELLOWJACKETS CAST ADDITIONS FOR FINAL SEASON
The official Yellowjackets Instagram account welcomed a slew of new cast members for the upcoming fourth and final season which included Howard accompanying the post were, “The wilderness welcomes these new faces to the cast of #yellowjackets season 4.”
Leo joins Molly Ringwald, Eric Stoltz, June Squibb, Dulé Hill, Devon Sawa, Ken Marino, Aaron Staton, Cynthia Stevenson, Patricia De Leon, Noah Harpster, Sam Braun, and John Emmet Tracy for Yellowjackets final season which will premiere on November 22, 2026.
For those who may not be aware, Yellowjackets, was created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, and follows a high school girls soccer team after its plane crashes in the remote northern wilderness. The series moves between the teenagers’ increasingly brutal fight for survival and the lives the survivors have attempted to rebuild nearly 25 years later, proving that what happened in the past is far from buried.
Back on August 20, Paramount+ revealed that Yellowjackets will conclude with season 4 offering up a chilling teaser with former MTV VJ, Kurt Loder seen as a newscaster announcing, “We are live with breaking news: The Wiskayok Yellowjackets have been found.” From there, the season will deal with the aftermath of the soccer team’s eventual rescue.
Michael Fairman TV will keep you posted when Howard’s first episode of Yellowjackets will stream on Paramount+.
Now let us know, glad to see Leo landing a role in Yellowjackets? Will you miss him on Days of our Lives? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Federal Film and TV Tax Credit Bill Hits Congress; Daytime Dramas Not Eligible

In an effort to bring back productions to the United States and offering incentives to keep them from going abroad, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress has introduced proposed legislation to establish a federal film and television tax credit. It is being touted as a landmark moment for Hollywood Workers and small businesses.
The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, led by Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Rep. Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) in the House of Representatives, would establish a 20 percent base tax credit on labor expenses and a potential rebate of 30% if signed into law. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are spearheading an identical bill in the Senate.
To be eligible, productions must have a minimum spend of $1 million (per film or per TV season), and at least 75% of production days must be in the U.S. For animation, 75% of the production cost must be in the U.S.

Photo: CBS
SOAP OPERAS AND OTHER FORMS OF PROGRAMMING WILL NOT BE PART OF THE BILL
The federal incentive would be eligible to be stacked on top of individual state tax incentives, much like the current system in Canada and Australia. In the new bill, postproduction and special visual effects labor costs can be counted as eligible expenses.
However, the lawmakers proposed bill does not include the following type of shows: Daytime dramas, porn, commercials, talk shows, interview shows, game shows, award shows, news programming, live sports, corporate/industrial videos, and social media videos,
TV AND FILM PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE HOPE TO BRING BUSINESS AND JOBS BACK TO THE U.S.
The federal film and television tax credit will be available for: films, TV shows – scripted and unscripted (4-episode minimum), TV pilots, animation, above-the-line wages (producers, writers, directors, actors, etc.) and below-the-line wages (crew), and standalone post-production and visual effects.
If passed, the legislation could offer much needed help for workers who have been rocked by recent unsteady times in show business. In all, runaway productions, strikes and a contraction in the business have dashed many job opportunities in recent years, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finding that jobs in the motion picture and video industries have declined by more than 100,000 since 2022.
Click here to review the entire proposed bill from congress.
So, what do you think of the new bill on the table in the U.S. congress? Glad to know that it could, if passed, help some types of projects? What do you think about how the soaps are excluded and deemed not eligible? Does it continue to seem to you, that no matter what, those that work within the continuous tightened budget of daytime dramas can never catch a break? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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