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!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Looks Back at 50 Years in Salem

The June 22 episode of Days of Our Lives reminded us all of why Deidre Hall is iconic in the role of Dr. Marlena Evans. Here we are 50 years later, and Marlena is still the heroine of the long-running soap opera, and Deidre remains one of the most most recognizable names in the history of soaps.
To pay tribute, and to look back at the life and times of Marlena, the story starts with Marlena flipping through a photo album of her with John (the late Drake Hogestyn) over the years. As she misses him dearly, she gets a knock on the door and its none other than John’s son, Paul Narita (Christopher Sean).
With Andrew (Colton Little) in Salem working on a case, he sits down with Marlena, who says she can’t believe its been fifty years since she first arrived in Salem! Cue: Deidre’s first scenes on DAYS when she finds Mickey Horton (the late John Clarke) playing chess against himself inside the mental institution she worked.

Courtesy/Peacock
THE FLASHBACKS OF MARLENA’S LIFE
From there, viewers definitely got the cliff notes version of the history of Marlena and entrenched within them, some of the biggest moments in Deidre’s enduring run.
Paul thinks he is looking at 70s, and early 80s Marlena while going through her scrapbook, but he is actually looking at her twin, Samantha (Andrea Hall). Cue: when Marlena confronted Samantha about impersonating her, and then later getting a call on her radio show from the Salem Strangler (Jack Coleman as Jake Kostichek) who killed Samantha thinking it was Marlena.
In the present, Belle (Martha Madison) has arrived at this time to meet up with Paul, unaware of this trip down memory lane. She wants to go over the findings in the chess board mystery Stefano willed to Marlena and John, in private with him, since Marlena previously said she wanted nothing to do with it.
Back to the history lesson, Marlena speaks highly of Don Craig and even though their marriage didn’t work out, she could find a path forward with the new love her life, Roman Brady. (Wayne Northrop however is never shown, possibly to keep the story focused on John as Roman for confusion sakes?)
Paul sees a photo of a young Carrie (Christie Clark) in the album and Marlena says she was such a godsend after losing her baby. In fact, Marlena says caring for Carrie prepared her for her having and raising her own twins, Eric and Sami. Cue: The twin visiting Marlena in the hospital.
JOHN AND MARLENA’S LOVE CONQUERED ALL
Then, in a way to get through and incorporate the wild storylines only Marlena could have been in, she tells Belle and Paul, she has been through so much in her life, how lucky she was to find John, and some of the most unbelievable experiences no one could imagine. Cue: Marlena possessed by the devil and levitating from the bed. Next, John confronting Marlena being the Salem Stalker, where she admits she killed Alice Horton, pretends she needs help, then pulls a gun on her beloved John!
The comment is made by Paul and Marlena, that she literally has been to hell and back and she could not have survived were it not for her beloved John. Cue the big emotional highpoint clips; The Pier Scene! Marlena steps out of the fog when John sees her from a distance. After believing she was dead for four years, here she was before him in one of the greatest reunions in a soap opera love story in history. What followed were other times of the life of times of Jarlena.

Courtesy/Peacock
MARLENA’S ‘GIFT’ FROM STEFANO HAS A NEW CLUE
When Marlena makes a brief exit to the other room, Belle fills in Paul on the chess set Stefano left her mother and the photo of the Lire. Paul said he will investigate. Marlena comes back into the room and overhears, and says to promise her if things get dangerous he will back off, she does not want anyone hurt by Stefano’s games.
As the episode comes to a conclusion, it’s just Belle and Marlena going through the photo album giggling about 70s hairstyles and all the memories. Belle speaks on the impact Marlena has had in everyone’s lives, and that she is both the heart of their family and the heart of Salem.
An end card comes up acknowledging Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena, and we fade to black.
So, what did you think of Marlena’s walk down memory lane? Were you happy to see the flashback clips utilized throughout? Were you touched by the scenes and the performance of Deidre Hall? Let us know what you thought of Deidre’s 50th anniversary episode via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans

If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.

Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.

Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!

Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)

Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.

Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Days Of Our Lives
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’

It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.
In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.
Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.

Photo: JPI
“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”
Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”

Photo: NBC
Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.
NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.
So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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