Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Co-EP Greg Meng Opens Up About The Departure Of Chandler Massey!

Photo Credit: Adam Campbell
There had been much controversy over the one day Chandler Massey was playing Will Horton on Days of our Lives, and the next day it was over, and he was told by DAYS executives that he had just filmed his last episode. So, what happened from the DAYS perspective?
The Backlot spoke to Greg Meng, the co-executive producer of Days of our Lives who has been the man behind the introduction of the first gay male characters (Sonny and Will) and their love story in the long running history of the NBC soap. Meng speaks on Chandler’s departure and his replacement in the role Guy Wilson.
Meng said on Chandler’s departure: “It’s real simple. There was a lot of accuracy and inaccuracy in the press. Chandler is not on the show right now. We have an incredible actor on board that is able to take the reins from this role that Chandler did an amazing job creating. And we found somebody who’s extremely talented… but more than talented, he’s so sensitive to this role and so sensitive to the story and the relationship and all that stuff. So we feel that we were very, very lucky to find somebody who wanted to take the reins. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do because Chandler had created such a wonderful role here, played it so sensitively and everything. So we think we found him, and we are very lucky to have somebody that will take those reins that Chandler handed to him and go forward with that. No ugliness, no weirdness. It was all done within the family, with Chandler and everything based on his future plans and based on where we needed to go with the story. I even told Chandler, I said laughingly, ‘This is your fault because you’ve created such an amazing character here and the storyline is so amazing and we’ve got major places to go with that and we can’t lose momentum.’ He was always fine with that, but he’s got plans. So it all worked out very well. It’s just gotten some misinterpretation out there.”

Courtesy/IMDB
Meng said on Guy Wilson’s arrival: “You obviously look for some sort of physical similarity on some level. You’re not looking for a cookie cutter because these are human beings and actors, and they have to make the part their own. But it’s beyond just looks. It has a lot to do with the sensitivity to the story and what we want to do with it and the eagerness of an actor to really get inside that storyline. And even more importantly the chemistry between whatever other key characters are important with that role…I’m telling you, [Guy Wilson’s] not only doing Chandler justice with what he created in this role, but he’s inside it. I’m telling you, you will love him.”
So, what do you think about Greg’s comments regarding Chandler’s exit on DAYS and the casting of Guy Wilson in the pivotal role of Will Horton? Let us know!
Lets just move on…PLEASE!!!
They should have cast Philip Seymour Hoffman as Will! Has anyone seen him play Truman Capote?? He plays gay AWESOME!
I think he’s a bit old to play Will.
I think most of this article is crap. Chandler, after all he has done and been to Days, said himself that he was unceremoniously let go without any farewell or even a fare they well. Damage control is a nice spin and I’m sure the new kid is awesome and I look forward to seeing him in the role. But Chandler was bitch slapped, on purpose, no matter how you wanna color it. That’s all.
“fair thee well”, not “fare they well”. My brain and my fingers got twisted up.
And evidently, still are. FARE THEE WELL.
Yes, you are quite correct, it’s just PR crap in plain English. It’s of no consequence to me if an actor has decided to “move on” and vacate an
interesting role – but this is just damage control nonsense.
Were you there?
Writers create characters – Actors play them. I seriously doubt CM was there in the writer’s room when it was decided Sami should get pregnant as a teenager and the father would be Lucas, but she would pass the kid off as Austin’s. He was most likely in diapers himself, so please he did not create the character Will. And he wasn’t the first actor to play Will and he won’t be the last. He did a great job bringing to life the vision of the writers who penned Will’s coming out story line and he had good chemistry with his fellow actor who played Sonny, but to say he created Will and imply Will is somehow the property of CM just because he played him, is a bit much in my opinion.
Very very true.
Sorry to lose Chandler but Days could have given more notice to him that he was being replaced early. It must have been horrible to be told after taping one day that it was his last day. Chandler certainly deserved better. Loved him as WIll. Always will!!!
Happens every single day to regular people out there in the real world. Thousands of “ordinary people” are told that “you’ve done a great job, we wish you well, company is having problems…blah blah blah…we have to let you go” etc.
Chandler had already given his notice, the producers just wanted to get more
mileage out of the character. Such is the way of the world – re-cast, move on.
Exactly. No reason for controversy.
I think it will be years before we will hear the truth because everyone knows it’s career suicide to talk badly, even if it’s the truth, about your former employer. I have no doubt if Chandler choose to return to acting he will be even more successful but my gut tells me his people have told him to keep quiet, about what really happened, for the sake of his potential too return to acting after college.
I sincerely hope that people will still NOT be going on about this in years to come.
This told us absolutely nothing about what was accurate or inaccurate. Sorry Greg Meng, but this falls short.
That is my reaction too. I thought that was a promising beginning–and then it went nowhere. Knowing that there were accuracies and inaccuracies doesn’t help if you don’t tell us which were which. I do get that there are probably aspects he can’t talk about, but the impression I’m left with is that he’s got something to hide and he knows it. If that’s the best he can do, maybe he should have just left it alone. I don’t think he helped his case very much; if anything, his dodging the questions just makes it look as though TPTB were in the wrong and know it.
Didn’t we have other cast members expressing that they could not believe how CM was treated? I suppose they, too, might not know the whole story–but you would expect that they would be close enough to the situation to have a good sense of what was really what.
That said, I hope viewers will give the new guy a chance. None of this is his fault.
I agree. Greg’s comments were so full of fluff and said absolutely nothing to clarify what was already out there.
When I read quotes like his, I have to wonder if there is something wrong with the person’s ability to put cohesive, thoughtful sentences together. Do they always talk in circles? And if so, how do they ever get anything accomplished?
Clearly, when someone talks likes they are avoiding the truth by talking all around the question; never directly answering it.
I don’t blame Chandler or Guy for this mess. I wish both of them well and wish Mr. Meng the ability to answer a question directly the next time he is asked.
i still don’t know what actually happened & probably never will – sorry greg meng but you totally tapped danced around the question.
on the other hand i truly hope the fans give guy wilson a chance to prove what he can do as actor and not start saying hateful things about him.
“…because you’ve created such an amazing character here and the storyline is so amazing and we’ve got major places to go with that and we can’t lose momentum.;”
it’s with adulation – a heavy heart – an uplift for – angels weep – a resounding YES – all systems go….
I have a voice…. THE LGBT has a voice. an equally stunning forum thru which my life… and yours… is flying
It’s just gotten some misinterpretation out there.”
for the love of (our) “Days of OUR Lives” – lets keep this train moving… the momentum forward… the heartfelt moments… and lives afloat… spread your wings both Chandlers’ and know we treasure, appreciate, love, and welcome both Men in their wake, path, and live well in your knowledge that nesting in a gay character is present.
I’m happy
I want 1500 milligrams of whatever you’re on.
i’m in cohoots… with: “Gramma Marlena” to look after our “wills”
I loved Chandler in the role; however, in the real world most people that threaten to quite their job publicly get fired. Period. Chandler is young, hot, and talented- and he learned a valuable life lesson while he still young enough not to repeat a similar mistake in the future. Next.
Exactly! Its like…..PEOPLE!! The dude already quit!!! Where is the juicy scandal here??????
There is no need for a scandal! Why would you want one?!
And Chandler ‘threatened’ to quit his job? Please!..
What is needed is the truth. From TPTB and their real reasons for firing Chandler.
I know that we didn’t get the truth about Chandler’s exit. Greg Meng didn’t just tap dance around the question, he avoided it all together. This article told us nothing. If you read between the lines, he was unceremoniously dumped. When you’ve made a character iconic and won awards for the role and they don’t even throw him a going away party, that means TPTB feel betrayed and fired him before he could quit.
He had already quit!!
Even though he quit, he wasn’t supposed to leave until much later. Also, if one is on a show that long and not to get a send off, just “There’s the door, see ya.” There’s more to the story.
I trust Greg, and I believe Guy Wilson is a good match for the job. With the clips I’ve seen, Will seems like he’s in more than capable hands.
Reporter really didn’t do his job on this one and shouldn’t have allowed Meng to get away with his spin. There were reports of Chandler in tears yet he indicates Massey was fine.
Day’s has had a tradition of giving a departing actor an on set cake on their last day. I don’t fault them for finding a recast and letting him out of his contract early but the way they dumped someone who brought them lots of publicity. He got two Emmys for them, something they rarely receive and the treatment he received was pretty shabby.
I am looking forward to Mr. Wilson’s portrayal of Will Horton.
The more he or others in days talk, the more I call them BS. Let CM move on stop talking about him, he sure isn’t .
Well, there was not any info about why Chandler was pushed out so fast after he gave his notice of leaving, but understandably in Greg ‘s position he focused on the positive and moving forward. I think there should be a soap opera about the behind the scenes of a soap opera. It would be more exciting than current soap operas. 🙂
I don’t understand how this new guy could possibly do a better job than Chandler Massey, who won an Emmy! I wonder what the REAL story is.
For a start of it wasn’t Meng or Corday that wanted a recast, it was Sony who demanded one for fear of losing advertisers as they realised how popular Will and Sonny were. Secondly ayes Chandler quit but he was initially going to work til the end of his contract at that time they hadn’t found a recast because they didn’t want one it was only when Sony intervened that they conveniently found Guy Wilson who by the way wasn’t someone unfamiliar to Dool as they stated. The whole thing stinks to high heaven but as ppl have said that’s just Hollywood. It’s just sad the way one of their most popular actors who brought them a much needed boost was treated so badly. Yes he may have been a recast but Chandler was the first Will to help create Wilson. So it will be a hard transition for some including me.
There’s one more thing it seems from reading various comments on several sites, that soap actors and fans are treated with such contempt and viewed as inferior in some way. In the UK soap actors are treated like royalty they have a hard job working 20hr days memorising pages and pages of script doing back to back episodes. Soaps have been around forever and have been the mainstay drama on tv. It’s unheard of to treat their actors the way they do in the US. I’m not trying to be controversial for want of a better word it’s just an observation.
You cut off the book promotion part…lol.the whole thing is a total PR written piece. Backlot should have charged Meng for the ad. And it’s also bullshit. If things went down the way Meng said so then Chandler would have been out there? It’s because he wants to work. Whether Guy Wison is good or not is irrelevant. No matter what something stinks.
I’m surprised that so many contributors here see hypocrisy as part of the recast, and insincerity on the part of DOOL producers. Chandler himself announced he wanted to leave the show to pursue college and whatever. Fine. So obviously DOOL had their work cut out for them finding a top-notch replacement. They found someone right away they feel will fill the bill, so they eagerly wanted to move forward with the replacement. It’s all business — not a slam to CM. Both sides get what they want. CM will always find work if and when he decides to return to acting. DOOL will continue on into its [49th?] year. It’s just business!
Beyond the Gates
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the full list of nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, and it was CBS daytime’s The Young and the Restless and broadcast television newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates that racked up the most nominations with 18 and 16, respectively.
The full reveal on Tuesday follows the announcement of several major categories including Lead Actor and Actress on Monday via Extra and Entertainment Tonight and The View today revealing Daytime Drama Series and more.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys ceremony is set to take place on Friday, October 30 at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.

Photo: CBS
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS expressed, “We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television, As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
“Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication that drive this vibrant community of storytellers,” said Rachel Schwartz, Head of the Daytime Emmy Awards. “Congratulations to this year’s nominees, whose work continues to entertain, inspire and connect with audiences every day. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements in Hollywood this October.”
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Gold & Silver Circle Inductees, and ceremony host will be announced at a later date.
Now below, check out the nominees in the daytime drama, talk show, entertainment news series and creative arts categories and congratulations to all!

Photo: JPI
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Stacy Haiduk (as Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives
Karla Mosley (as Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Michelle Stafford (as Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless
Heather Tom (as Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful
Tamara Tunie (as Anita Williams Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Eric Braeden (as Victor Newman), The Young and the Restless
Steve Burton (as Jason Morgan), General Hospital
Scott Clifton (as Liam Spencer), The Bold and the Beautiful
Thorsten Kaye (as Ridge Forrester), The Bold and the Beautiful
Christian Jules Le Blanc (as Michael Baldwin), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Linsey Godfrey (as Sarah Horton), Days of Our Lives
Camryn Grimes (as Mariah Copeland), The Young and the Restless
Beth Maitland (as Traci Abbott), The Young and the Restless
Trisha Mann-Grant (as Leslie Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Amanda Setton (as Brook Lynn Quartermaine), General Hospital
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Sean Dominic (as Nate Hastings), The Young and the Restless
Timon Kyle Durrett (as Bill Hamilton), Beyond the Gates
Michael Graziadei (as Daniel Romalotti), The Young and the Restless
Roger Howarth (as Matt Clark), The Young and the Restless
Mike Manning (as Bradley “Smitty” Smith), Beyond the Gates
Lawrence Saint-Victor (as Carter Walton), The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Braedyn Bruner (as Emma Scorpio-Drake), General Hospital
Al Calderon (as Javier Hernandez), Days of Our Lives
Alice Halsey (as Rachel Black), Days of Our Lives
Giovanni Mazza (as Gio Palmieri), General Hospital
Ambyr Michelle (as Eva Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Arielle Prepetit (as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jasmine Burke (as June Hughes), Beyond the Gates
Jeff Kober (as Cyrus Renault), General Hospital
Eva LaRue (as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez), General Hospital
Christopher Sean (as Paul Narita), Days of Our Lives
Ray Wise (as Ian Ward), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
3rd Hour of TODAY
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Live With Kelly and Mark
TODAY With Jenna & Friends
The View
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, The View
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall
Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri
Outstanding Entertainment News Series
Access Hollywood
Entertainment Tonight
Extra
Outstanding Daytime Personality (Daily)
Mona Kosar Abdi, Derek Hough & Terri Seymour, Extra
Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight
Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, Access Hollywood
Star Jones & Corey Jovan, Divorce Court
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood — An Entertainment Tonight Special
Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Working In the Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Daytime
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
Have Guitar Will Travel World
The Kelly Clarkson Show Episode 5033
Let Frankie Cook,” Getting the Band Back Together
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 104
The Bold and the Beautiful,” Episode 9511
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”
The Jennifer Hudson Show, ” Episode 4041
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
General Hospital, Episode 15719
The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Episode 5033
The Young and the Restless,” Episode 13273
So, what do you think of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations? Who are you happy to see receive a nomination and who do you think was snubbed? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series

Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.

Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.

Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026’ Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

It’s Daytime Emmy nomination week, and as previously reported things kick-off on Monday, July 13 when Entertainment Tonight (7pm ET) will announce the nominees for Lead Actress category and Daytime Talk Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition on Monday, Extra (7pm ET) will reveal the nominees for Lead Actor and Daytime Talk Host.
On Tuesday, The View (11am ET) starts things off with their announcement of Daytime Drama, Entertainment News program and Outstanding Daytime Personality-Daily. That is followed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) full reveal of all the categories beginning at 12noon ET/9am PT on their website and their official social handles on X and Instagram.
Then, Tuesday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT join Michael Fairman as he hosts his 12th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026 live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he will chat with some of the just announced nominees as we celebrate the hard work of the men and women in front of the camera who will be going for gold.
WHEN ARE THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
This year, the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on October 30 in ceremonies in Hollywood, California (Venue yet to be revealed). At that time, as like last year, both the major categories and creative arts will be presented. There is no word yet on a broadcast partner for the annual celebration of daytime programming, or if it will soley be streamed on NATAS’ watch.theemmys.tv and various apps and platforms.
WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THE DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS SPECIAL 2026?
Throughout Tuesday, keep an eye on Michael Fairman TV’s social media handles on X, Facebook and Instagram, for updates of who will be expected to appear on our live show.
If you have a question or comment for one of the nominees, or on the nominations, we can encourage you to join us in the live chat on Tuesday night.
So, who are you hoping lands a nomination from Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Let us know via the comment section. More Tuesday!
-

As The World Turns2 days agoScott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
-

Beyond the Gates6 days ago‘The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards’ Nominations Announcement Date Revealed: Who Will Be Going For Gold?
-

Breaking News4 days agoRandolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ and ‘Loving’ Actor, Dies at 80
-

General Hospital4 days agoSteve Burton Returns to ‘General Hospital’ on Its 16,000th Episode: How Will Jason Be a Changed Man?
-

Beyond the Gates2 days ago‘Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026’ Live on the Michael Fairman Channel
-

General Hospital2 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Rory Gibson Ties the Knot with Alicia Ruelas
-

General Hospital6 days agoKelly Kruger Set to Debut on ‘General Hospital’: Why Serena Baldwin Comes Back to Port Charles Revealed
-

Beyond the Gates1 week agoRATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ and ‘General Hospital’ Score Highest Weekly Viewer Increase













