As DAYS viewers witnessed on Friday’s episode, Abe has been shot in the park, after Carmine pulls out a gun, and Jake (Brandon Barash) tries to apprehend him.  Jake rushes to Abe’s side and calls an ambulance and he is rushed to University Hospital.  Once there, Abe eventually flatlines, while Lani (Sal Stowers), Paulina (Jackee Harry) and Eli (Lamon Archey) are besides themselves with worry.

This sets the stage for Monday’s episode where Abe will go into the light, as Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) works to save his light and while he hovers between life and death, DAYS fans are treated to the special 40th anniversary episode of James Reynolds as Salem’s Abe Carver.   The Daytime Emmy-winning actor, (he won Lead Actor in 2018) began his Salem journey when he first aired back on October 29th, 1981.

Photo: JPI

While Abe revisits the past, he will meet up with his late wife and love of his life, Lexie, only according to Soap Opera Digest, Renee Jones was not available to be a part of the milestone episode. So, in a pivot another actress was brought in.

Reynolds told SOD on the Lexie appearance, “The young actress they brought in to be part of this was just wonderful“n giving the essence of (their) relationship and communicated beautifully, just beautifully, in her face and her eyes, as Renee did quite so often.”  He added, “I was kind of transported, actually.”

Photo: JPI

In addition, James continues to be the the longest-running black actor in the same role in television history.

Check out the latest NBC promo featuring Abe’s life hanging in the balance below.

Now let us know, are you glad that DAYS is honoring James with this special 40th anniversary episode? What has been your favorite James Reynolds performance as Abe through the years? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

As viewers of NBC’s Days of our Lives are watching the revisiting of the classic possession storyline revisited with its 2021 version 2.0, the stage is being set for plenty of devilish drama, now that good doc, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) is once again in the grips of evil.

We have already seen her with yellow eyes, conjuring up some demonic plans, and of course, the devil trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Marlena’s husband, John Black (Drake Hogestyn).

Photo: NBC

Back in the 1994/95 version of this storyline, Father John emerged and exorcised the demon from Marlena, so he knows a thing or two about being possessed, and the horrors it caused to Marlena, and the town of Salem 25 years ago, and as we have seen John is very, very concerned about all this talk of Marlena being possessed by the devil from the script that Johnny (Carson Boatman)  is set to make into a film on Sami’s life story.

Current Days of our Lives head writer, Ron Carlivati, spoke with Soap Opera Digest in their latest issue on newsstands now, about his plans and the creation of the 2021 possession storyline. Ron revealed that John is not going to be in the dark for long, sharing: “John has been through this, so the devil isn’t going to be able to pull the wool over his eyes the way he did the first time.”

Carlivati also added: “Even though all soap opera stories, I would argue, depend on some characters being a little bit dumb, in this case, we decided John needs to get on to this sooner than he did in the original because that’s what they audience would expect.  Look for the story to move along at a pretty good clip. We are not rushing, anything by any means – we are having so much fun with the story, but it was important to us that John not look stupid here so he starts to suspect something is wrong with her pretty soon.”

So, are you glad that John will not be completely dumped? Will Father John return to save the day? Are you enjoying the story thus far? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Then, check out our recent interview with Ron all about the creation of DAYS limited-series, Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem still streaming on Peacock.

On Tuesday’s episode of Days of our Lives, the devil had his way with his favorite person, Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)! In story, leave it to Marlena to save Doug (Bill Hayes) by giving herself up to Satan!

As Doug revealed himself to be Satan while in a therapy session with Marlena in her office, a shook Marlena tries to comprehend what is happening! When the devil says if Marlena won’t accept him in, she will punish Doug, he does just that.

Photo: JPI

Poor Doug is left writhing in pain and on the floor, crying out for help! When we come back to the scene Marlena is not exactly right near his body, but sort of overlooking what is happening. Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) rushes into Marlena’s office to find Doug as Marlena stares blankly. Eventually, she calls for help.

After Doug is put in a hospital room and is monitored, Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Tripp (Lucas Adams) can’t find anything wrong with him. Meanwhile, Julie finds Marlena at the nurses station and asks what happened with Doug during their therapy session.  Marlena flashes back to what led to Doug writing on the floor, and clearly something is way off with Marlena, because she has now become possessed.

Later, Julie sits by Doug’s hospital bed as he opens his eyes, as he tells his beloved wife, “He left me and went in to her.”  A confused Julie is left to ponder what on earth Doug could be talking about.

When Marlena comes home to John (Drake Hogestyn) – who is already concerned with Johnny (Carson Boatman) being set on making a movie of Sami’s life story which includes points on Marlena’s original possession – she tells him Doug collapsed in her office. When the two hug, Marlena slowly opens her eyes  revealing that they are glowing yellow.  Yup! We are off to the races. Marlena is now once again possessed.

So, what did you think about the scenes between Deidre Hall and Bill Hayes? Are you enjoying the revisiting of the infamous ‘possession’ storyline thus far? Comment below.