Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Co-EP Greg Meng Speaks Out On The Writing Regime Changes to Save Salem!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Days of our Lives is going through yet another overhaul, and once again timing is critical! The show has been faltering again in the ratings and apparently not even the great Will Horton coming out storyline, extremely well-written by Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas could save the scribes, because the other storylines with Salem’s favorite couples being torn apart for various reasons, was not clicking with viewers. So with that, and host of other issues facing the lone NBC soap, DAYS co-executive producer spoke to TV Guide for what happens next in trying to get Salem back on the map!
Meng on if NBC instigated and demanded a writing change at DAYS: “We spoke with the network and collectively felt we needed to take a pause, make a change with the writing and the style of the show for a while and see if that will redirect things. The ratings situation is very complex and difficult, and we have a tremendous challenge with that right now. Everybody on the Days team, and that includes NBC and Sony, our distributor, wants this show to succeed and we’re doing everything we can to make it work. We all have different visions as to how to achieve that success but the good news is that we’re all in synch on the future. No one wants cancellation. Even though we brought in Darrell and Marlene to reset Days last September, it was always our feeling that the show needed to constantly be nurtured with smaller resets. This isn’t the end of the world. We’re just resetting it again in an effort to get it right.
Meng on how all the Salem couples were written under McPherson and Thomas: “People do want to see the major couples but the problem is you can’t tell good story when couples are together and everything’s all hunky-dory. That’s the challenge Darrell and Marlene have been up against. They tried some unique ways to split up those couples yet that hasn’t quite worked. But they get an A-plus for effort. In hindsight, I do think too many couples splitting up has been an issue. We also brought in the wonderful Sarah Brown (Madison) and threw her into a lot of material very quickly. Maybe too much too quickly. But, again, we feel like we’re in a great place to make the next step.”
Meng on if the next step is seeing another major shuffle of major characters being weaved in and out ( as already posted today, DAYS let-go four actors) and if the firings will be epic, like Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn being pink-slipped a few years back. “Yes. And that’s all I’m going to say about that right now, We’re looking at weaving people in and out, and bringing them back later if we can.”
Meng on if there is viewer backlash from the gay storyline as OLTL faced with KISH: “I don’t know. I think it’s a beautiful story and we are committed to it. But probably it’s not the story that most women are going to tune in for every day, the one they don’t want to miss. I think it’s a story everybody likes, but the women want to see romance. Our goal is to get back lapsed viewers — our family of viewers who stopped watching altogether or aren’t watching us every day.”
So soapers, what do you think? Can another round of firing actors and bringing in writers save DAYS? What do you think the integral problems with the show are? What would you like to see on-screen that you are not being given the opportunity to see? Let us know!
Translation: I talk out of both sides of my mouth and I have become very good at it!
DAYS is so tragically messed up. The issue at DAYS is and has always been Corday.
Amen!
Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He really has no idea. Its a shame really
I think they need to fire Greg Meng!!
at the end of the day if it saves Days …
What’s the point for Days to be saved for savings sake if the stories are written poorly, rushed and overlooked for weeks at a time? They fired Matt Ash. so by default they fired me as a loyal fan too.
Me too!!!!
That’s how I feel about Carrie and Austin, although I am a Jack fan too. These firings are devastating and remind me of 2006 when Jack, Carrie and Austin were shown the door yet again. These are the characters we want to see! No one wants to watch a DOOL about useless characters like Rafe, Daniel, Gabi, Melanie, Chad, Ian and Madison. Yuck.
The actors are taking the blame for the failings of the writers and producers. Such a shame.
You proven to be a the biggest idiot in just one line :”“People do want to see the major couples”. You don’t know us fans at all. You have no FREAKING CLUE what we want. You NEVER listen. Not the actors fault or the couples, characters. Its you writers lousy writing. It takes more than just bringing back fan faves. You have to write them in character but with a compelling storyline around them, not one done a million times over. There are tons of fans who love the MAIN COUPLES and is the main reason we have turned in. We Fast Foward scenes with new characters, useless characters like Rafe, Melanie,Chad, Madison, Daniel.Gabi. Why not get rid of them? Characters fans DO NOT care about cause they have been shoved down our throats. We DO WANT our couples but you won’t write for them. You keep bringing them back to run them into the ground then fire them. I can think of tons of stories to do with JAck And Jennifer, Carrie & Austin, etc. But you have proven YOU DON’T CARE, about the actors, The Fans or the show. My only hope now is the SHOW gets CANCELLED, cause as far as I am concerned, a DIEHARD FAN over over 20 years, The Show is as good as DEAD TO me. You Took away my Sun, which is Carrie & Austin. Christie, Patrick and Matthew and whoever else you fire deserve better. IDIOITS!!!!!
Exactly then show us EJAMI, jenn/jack, Brady/Nicole. I agree with your comment 100%. They have shoved useless characters that cant act down our throats and we have to like it. I hope the show does get cancelled because the way they are treating the VETS, they deserve it. I have lost ALL faith in DAYS and I am no longer going to watch. Letting go of Matt, Christie and Patrick just about does it for me.
I think NBC will end up cancelling Days in 2013. NBC wants to extend Today to a fifth hour and Days’s timeslot is the only one that is available for such project. All the other timeslots belong to the affiliates and they’ll never give them to the network.
NBC wants to exit the soap business just like ABC and CBS.
First, glad Mr. Meng spoke out, we needed to hear from ‘The Management’ about the direction the show was going to take even if we anticipated what he would say. Any way, want to say thank you, still good and important to hear because you kind of feel that this is the beginning of the end, so some reassurance that the show is going to continue for awhile anyway, and they are going to continue to try improve it is helpful.
With that said, I think with all that goes on internally, they may lose sight of what the viewer is seeing. Aside from the Will/Gay storyline which I think has been well done, the rest of the show has been very ‘messy’ the last few weeks with hollow story lines that really do not lead any where important, missing pieces in the story lines, dropped story lines, too many small story lines all over the place, too many superfluous characters that should just have peripheral story lines, but have been given main story lines, and too many characters in general. They need to clean the show up by staying focused on the main core characters who have been on the show for awhile, write better more well developed story lines for them like the Gay/Will story line – they could do this by either writing a main story line/plot that involves all the characters and have a few inter-related sub-plots or if that is difficult to write then have a few interesting plots going on, but not too many of them and if possible see if some of them can be more connected. What is key is to keep a story line going – do not start something, drop it, have missing pieces, have big gaps in the story line when you start something then you focus on another story line for weeks then go back to a story line after you have not said anything about it for weeks. You lose the audience if you do that. I do think the show has been better at the length of the scenes, the dialogue, and having some story lines end more quickly ( thank goodness the Austin/Carrie/Abigail story line is finished; the the Gina/Pawn seems to be ending, hopefully, the Brady/Madison/Ian story line is moving to a close also). Obviously, we would like to have story lines that are interesting, compelling, can deal with contemporary issues like the Will /Gay story line, have some intrigue and of course romance ( whether it is straight or gay). I like when you see people dealing with work issues by day and romance at night. The show started to go in that direction a few months ago and then shifted direction and was lost. I also liked the Post War Syndrome story line, that could have been good , but it was dropped.
I liked the Will/Gay story line because it was developed in a way that you felt a lot for Will, you saw his internal struggle and the process he went through, it is a socially important story line, the storyline was developed in a way that you wanted to watch how it would progress and how Will would come to terms with who he is, the scenes with other characters were excellent – Marlena, Sonny (looking forward to seeing the scenes when Will talks to Sami and Lucas and see how they deal with it). I think the writers/producers should use the process of this story line as a mode for others. Mr. Meng just to let you know that there are some straight women who would be fine with seeing gay romance. The key is that all be well written and well done – the characters have to have likeable qualities and the story lines have to paced in a way that you want to keep watching to see what is going to happen and for heaven sake – don’t drop story lines in the middle! That is frustrating and actually disorienting – you just want to tune out.
Just a couple of other comments – I hope that ratings take into consideration that some people watch the show on Youtube in the evening since it is posted there. If they tweak the show and clean it up, perhaps, it can be saved. Would love to see Days make it to its 50th Anniversary!
DOOL used to be so good when Crystal Chappell was on and now they have slaughtered the show. I cant believe they are firing actors once again. Recasting the recasts didn’t work.
Whats the point of watching a show that treats their actors the way they do. One certain
actress cant keep the show going in fact I think the sand is going to run out of the Hour Glass sooner than we think!
I couldn’t agree more. I loved Carly and still think she and Chloe should be front and center. I would also like to see Belle and Shawn-Douglas come back. The misuse of Mary Beth Evans, Judi Evans and Wally Kurth has been embarrassing.
They need to keep the Will story on track, but it sounds like they might just throw the baby out with the bath water. I think Days needs someone like Ed Scott at the helm.
DAYS NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED ASAP!!!!!! THIS HAS NOT BEEN MY SHOW SINCE 2003. DOESN’T”T MATTER WHO IS WRITING, ITS STILL CRAP! NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO TELL GOOD ROMANCE STORY LINES ANYONE. ITS ALWAYS MUSICAL BEDS.
I hate this Meng guy, and Corday sucks! Me and my grandmother will gladly take up the roles of head writers and set some things straight.
Just want to add to my last overly lengthy comment. In relation to how I said they could improve Days, I do not necessarily believe they have to spend massive amounts of money (or blow the budget) to achieve what I have outlined. If there are good quality story lines that are compelling and engaging and character development that makes you feel for the characters this will compensate for glitzy sets, location shots, clothing, etc. To tell a good story you do not necessarily need excessive ‘props’ just good writing and acting! The Gay/Will story line is an example of this.
Extremely upset and disappointed that Carrie, Austin, and Jack are leaving. I only started watching Days again after a 5-year absence because they brought back my favorite couple (Austin and Carrie). I won’t watch Days again after they leave, except for maybe the series finale in September 2013.
What was the point of bringing back all those vets and stirring trouble with stories that were boring back them. And using old stories lines that have already been used. It’s like someone is trying to sabotages to show to kill off . I have been watching the show for over 25 years. Why they didn’t they just brought back Carrie and Austin give them a story line about them having baby or adopting a baby instead destroying Sami and Rafe.
Destroying Sami and Rafe was the BEST thing they ever do, this pairing is awful and boring !
I’m over it! I can’t even think of anyone that they could bring back or add that would make the show better. Why get rid of writers who were just getting their stride? Matt Ashford should not be let go. I can see why Carrie and Austin might be leaving because their characters were ruined
Keep Christie Clark! And Do NOT even THINK of letting Deidre Hall go again. If you have to, get rid of Drake- can’t stand the Gina/Pawn rehash…just give us more of Deidre Hall!
He’s a sexist pig! Who is he to tell me or any woman what we like or don’t like to watch? The only reason I still watch Days is because of the gay storyline! Chandler Massey, Freddie Smith and Deidre Hall are kicking this story out of the ballpark. It’s obvious he nor anyone at NBC know what they are doing or even know who their audience is. The network execs all have their heads up their a**es! This is 2012 and women are not just fans of “straight” love. There are many kinds of love and this story has to potential to tell a good and thought provoking tale. But then again…I doubt NBC even cares about Days fans anyway. They just want a 5th hour of Today anyway…
Side note…I’m truly saddened about Matthew Ashford getting the ax. He is also a great actor but he was never given a chance to flourish. His story could have been really good and realistic! That poor guy has been fired so many times…I hope he tells them to go to hell if they ever ask him back! He deserves better!
Well said.
I totally agree!! Clark and Brown should do the same!
I agree with you about Straight women have no problem with the Gay storyline I love it and wish they would just get on with it it is extremly frustrating that they are taking so long getting it started and Greg does’nt have any clue what we want!
I’m not a women, so I can’t reply for them. But as a man who has loved soaps all his life, I totally disagree about the WILL sotry line. It is the ONLY reason I am tuning into DAYS. His scenes are the ONLY scenes I do not FF to when I tape it. This story line has been well written and acted. It makes sense when so many of the other ones do not. If DAYS’ new writing team decides that they need to stall or change the direction of WILL’s story, I’ll find something else to do with that hour…and I well suspect I won’t be the only one to do so.
Excuse me, Mr. Meng, but the Will storyline is the ONLY one I tune in to see every day. Actually I DVR the show and skip the storylines I don’t like. I think it was condescending of him to say that “the women want to see romance.” I’m assuming he thinks that a gay storyline can’t be romantic. I think there is great potential for the Will/Sonny storyline to be very romantic. If he is truly interested in saving Days, he ought to realize that many of the storylines are not working; but the Will/Sonny storyline may truly be the only one that is working!!
I totally agree with you that is why I tune in as well to watch the Will and Sonny storyline I can care less really about the other Characters they are the ones I want to see and I also agree the gay story line can be very Romantic and yes I agree also that its the one that is working!!!!!!!!!
the main character in this show right now is the Horton town square and I am getting tired of it already. oh… what romance… evryone is breaking up and or turning into characters from the very tired past. how many times can you shake up the writers and reset the show? doesn’t all of thst resetting just give us very disjointed stories?
It is so sad… too many talented people in the soap world and too few well written soaps!
You’re right on about the Horton Town Square. In the middle of February, people are eating lunch in the square wearing a light jacket. People have intimate, private conversations in the square, as if it’s the most private place in the world. Every press conference is held in the square. The Dock used to be the place to go for all conversations, muggings and make-out sessions.
I dont think anyone likes Will being gay,I sure as hell dont and no one I know that has watched Dool for as long as its been on likes Will being gay.
they should have done a gay SL with new charecters and when the SL was over they could be gone.
Anna…what a stupid comment. Gay people don’t just go away. Ignotant people like you should crawl back in your cave and go away.
The Nielsen ratings are always wrong and way outdated! I don’t know why the networks don’t do something else. I am glad Carrie and Austin are leaving. The storyline with Abigail needed to be more mental. The fatal attraction was not played enough. Stefano needs to go.
Carrie and Austin shouldn’t be cut. They are a popular supercouple. Unfortunately, the writing DESTROYED them this time, particularly Carrie. Not looking forward to months more of this Rafe crap followed by a rushed Aurrie reunion.
Carrie is boring…..The sooner they go off in the sunset the better.
Cathy, Carrie is a sweetheart. She is one of the best characters on Days. Getting rid of them is a HUGE mistake. They’ve just lost an entire fanbase.
News for the Meng/Corday company: The problem was not Brown, Ashford, Clark and Muldoon. It also was not the previous writing regime. It is the head guys in charge! They don’t commit to story and everything the writers write, they change direction mid-way through the stories. Days was on track a few months ago. They brought back fan favorites and got me back as a viewer. Salem seemed like a real town where people really cared about each other and I couldn’t wait to get home to watch the show. Now I am sure we can expect the storyline for Will and Sonny to be thrown away (Mr. Meng sorta said that himself); Marlena and John will probably disappear like Maggie and Victor and Sami and EJ will be shoved down our throats! If the head guys want to keep their jobs, then hire good writers (Lorraine Broderick was a good move) and let them do their jobs. If they want to save money, get rid of the character of Ian (even though I love Ian Buchanan), Gabi and Billie. Focus on the DiMeras, Hortons and Bradys. Focus on family. And PLEASE allow Sami to GROW UP!!!! Her act is getting a really tired!
You wonder why soaps are dying, this is another prime example. They are slowly committing suicide and how can you ask viewers to continue watching when GH, DOOL, & Y&R are churning out a big pile of dang.
So sad the “reboot” flopped, but all our favorites returned only to be ravaged with crummy storylines. Such a waste! Now the firing of our favorites begins. I returned after Steve/Kayla, John /Marlena, Jack/Jenn, and Adrienne/Justin disappeared. Now Maggie and Victor have disappeared. The Will/Marlena story has been really good, the rest is a mess. I want to see all the iconic Brady/Horton/ couples and families restored. Ian is way too creepy, Gabi, the Spa, Abigail turning ugly, now a new doctor? Who cares! The Horton Sqare was great, but the stories it spawned, not so much! I, too, will tootle if Jack, Marlena, John, Kayla, Carrie, etc leave. Not interested in Salamites with no Brady/Horton history or connection.
I am a woman and the only storyline that is drawing me in every day is Will’s coming out. Yes, I want romance and Will finding someone is romance!
Totally agree but so far as of todays show it looks like they are going to butcher that too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These guys have no idea how to run a soap. I worry for the future of Days……
DAYS seems like it is in MAJOR trouble. The “zig zag” decisions it has made over the past 3 years are inane — Deidre Hall is fired; the show later cleans house, sending lots of characters and writers packing, bringing back Hall and other veterans; 6 months after this “alleged reboot”, the new writers and a lot of the returned veterans are sent packing.
This guy can offer all the explanations that he wants to make things sound reasonable. However, even Helen Keller can see, the DAYS bosses either (1) have NO idea on how to build interest in the show; or (2) are terrified that the show is near cancellation and are desperately throwing everything on the screen to try to keep it alive. Personally, I think it is a combination of both. It won’t come as a big surprise to me if NBC yanks DAYS next year.
I will give the producer some credit. He really appears to be making a HUGE effort to build interest in his show. I really wish some of his passion would rub off on the Bell family so they would try to fix their trainwrecks over on CBS!!!
I can’t believe he made such a ridiculous comment about women not tuning in to watch gay romance, where has he been??!! Don’t they keep an eye on the internet? Thousands of women worldwide tune in specifically for gay romance stories, they’re desperate for more gay storylines. Nothing like a good m/m romance! I know that’s why I tune in to Days, hoping for more and for them to be more adventurous with the storyline. If they drop the Will (and Sonny) storyline, I won’t watch DOOL anymore.
I agree That is why I tune in is to watch the Gay storyline!!!!!!
I don’t watch soap operas. I watch characters. I used to watch Luke and Reid on ATWT and then they fubared that up at the end. I had to content myself with Europe and Austrailia for my characters. Christian and Olli, Aaron, Chris and Aiden… You’ve probably noticed, they’re all gay characters.
I am a straight female. The only romantic storylines that interest me on tv are gay storylines and so I follow them. I seek them out. And I am not alone. Started watching DOOL the day that Sonny K came to town. I ONLY watch on the days that he and/or Will are on (except for that damn website clusterfudge.. I mean, what the hell?!). And I’ve been watching soley with the hope and promise of Will finding a guy to love.
Why?
Well, a friend in one of the online groups I attend said it so well, I just have to quote her:
“The straight relationships tend to be far-less romantic. However, with gay storylines it seems as though the writers are so scared of messing it up that it turns into the beautiful fairy tale relationship that turns us into little giggling girls, who believe in true love again.” – Eve
Straight relationships on soaps tend to be more an exercise in bed hopping than anything else. This is boring to me. Been there, done that, bought the tee shirt, use it as a rag now. A gay relationship is new. It faces new challenges that we haven’t seen before. Add to that that as a newly visible minority, they are the underdog so you WANT them to succeed even more.
And when they’re not doing that, the women become plotting whorish shrews. I mean, what the hell are they doing with Gabi’s character. She’s going all Fatal Attraction now. She was never one of my favourites, but now? This type of behavoiour is supposed to ATTRACT new viewers? I know the plotting female was a soap opera staple in the past, but it’s 2012 – as it would be rediculous to to posession storielines now, this too should be left in the past. There are other ways writers. A character can be plotting and manipulative without giving up all of her self respect.
TPTB need to adapt to 2012. Not everyone watches soaps on tv. More people have to work these days. A lot of people, myself included, only watch their stories, or just their favourite characters’ stories, online. I understand that they are worried about revenue and such and don’t want to look at alternate viewing options, but there’s a very easy way for them to keep their advertizers happy – PUT THE PRODUCTS IN THE SHOW. This week there was a long episode with Sami in the kitchen with EJ. Put a bottle of Sunlight in the background. Have Will drink a coke in Horton Square… Then it wouldn’t matter what form of media people were watching because the products would be there! ADAPT!
Back to the whole ‘what women want’ thing. I think it goes without saying that women watch and are involved with Soaps more than men.
I did a quick test. I googled “Days of Our Lives” and then typed a character’s name beside it to see how many hits/pages/responses there were.
EJ – About 2,010,000 results
Sami – About 3,610,000 results
Carrie – About 19,400,000 results
Austin – About 26,800,000 results
John – About 200,000,000 results
Beau – About 2,960,000 results
Marlena – About 555,000 results
Chad – About 5,630,000 results
Abigail – About 2,010,000 results
Gabi – About 447,000 results
Melanie – About 2,220,000 results
Sonny – About 865,000 results (Note: Sonny has been on the show less than 1 yr)
Will – About 566,000,000 results
Gay – About 57,400,000 results (Again – storyline has been on less than a year)
A simple google search… And these writers still think women aren’t interested?
It’s called research.
Well said Research research reasearch get a clue Greg Meng!!!!!!!!!!
This must be an error about Austin and Carrie, i mean i don’t mind their characters but they are quite boring and their coupling without Sami plotting is an abyssal bore..so i don’t believe their numbers are higher than folks like Marlena or Sami..come on, as for the gays stories, characters they are very popular online, it is not new. Gays viewers love soaps and love to watch it online, they are pretty obsessed actually..lol
For those who are angry about the Greg Meng article or the latest firings and have twitter accounts…many are planning a twitter bomb to @daysofourlives and @nbcdays with hashtag #DaysAngryViewer and #days and any comment you’d like to add. Scheduled for tomorrow 04/12 at 1:30pacific/4:30eastern. Try to get it to trend and let TPTB know we care about this show and where they are headed with storylines. Pass it on. If you visit Daytime Royalty link them as well. There are 115 pages and counting of angry posts. Push for them to continue Will/Sonny or save your other favorite characters.
Not quite sure what the point of this interview was. If it was to reassure the fans that despite all the changes, yes, there’s a plan, and it’s going to result in something worth watching . . . it’s an epic fail. Some of it is pretty preposterous, even for a spin attempt; the tripe about “smaller resets” (or whatever it was he said) is just pure nonsense: you build viewership by having a vision, finding the right people to execute that vision, and then going forward confidently to enact that vision (in other words, through continuity), not by throwing stuff up against the wall and seeing what sticks. The constant major cast upheavals are also a sign that those in charge have no idea what they’re doing. (Alternate possibility: there is quite a power struggle going on among various players, and no clear winner has emerged yet.) I haven’t had any investment in DAYS for a long time, so ultimately I suppose I don’t care if these nuts drive it into the ground, but I feel so bad for people who are very attached to this show and have to watch these clueless, clueless people make one bad decision after another. And it also hurts me to see another soap circling the drain–especially when the potential is still there, but those in charge can’t get it together well enough to make some sane decisions. I haven’t seen enough of the outgoing writers’ work to judge whether they had real potential, but past experience with Messrs. Tomlin and Whitesell does not inspire confidence.
You fire Matt Ashford and think you are making good decisions for the show. Think again. I dropped all abc viewing after oltl was cancelled. I guess I’ll have to drop nbc too if this situation is not rectified.
There is no limit to the number of times characters can be presumed dead and never really die because it is a soap opera. After viewing the May 7 promo, I had to laugh. Who is Sami going to have grief sex with this time?
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Emily O’Brien Talks On Her Y&R Past as Jana Hawkes and Working with Peter Porte on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped on Tuesday, July 21, Emily O’Brien is the featured guest. As soap fans know, Emily has worked with Rikaart both in her first soap role on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes and now on Days of Our Lives in her current role of Gwen Rizczech.
While Emily continues on DAYS, she has very impressive list of credits in the other part of her career as a voice-over actress and one in motion-capture in some of the most popular video games in the world.
O’Brien was first seen on The Young and the Restless back in 2006. She recalled her landing the role which eventually paired her for her five year run with Greg Rikaart.
Photo: JPI
BEING CAST ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
“The role was just a few days and she wasn’t even supposed to be English,” Emily recalled. “The role was originally called Jade. Karen Rae, the casting director of The Young and the Restless at the time said to me “Oh, you’re from England. Try it with the dialect.” I put it on and she said, ‘I’m going to bring you back at like 3 for s callback.’ So then they changed the role to Jana and they said she’s going to be a Brit. I was only supposed to be on for like five episodes and it turned into 5 years.”
In explaining why she loved crazy Jana, Emily shared, “Jana was sort of like the misanthrope. She was just was the odd one out and I loved it. I felt so comfortable playing that because she was just eclectic and weird and she loved playing with Ouija boards and she rode a motorbike. There was just so much color to bring to her. It was just such a great match to play with Greg (Kevin), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren).
Photo: JPI
GWEN, DIMITRI AND LEO ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
On Days of Our Lives, the Leo, Gwen, Dimitri dynamic is quite unique and been through many schemes and entanglements. Often Emily finds herself in repartee with her ex-lover, Dimitri, who turned out to be gay and then had a thing for her bestie, Leo (Greg Rikaart)!
During the conversation, Greg and Emily sang, Peter Porte’s praised with O’Brien expressing, “Peter is just ready to play. He comes on set prepared. I’ve never seen him with his script. From blocking and rehearsals, he doesn’t have it. He’s prepared. He’s a physical actor and he always trying to come up with something. I think he let me slap him. He let me kiss him. He let me throw a cheeseburger in his lap. He’s ready for anything for anything.”
You can catch the full episode of ‘Soapy; featuring Emily O’Brien below where the actress also talks about replacing Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan after being let go as Gwen; and being paired again with Greg Rikaart on the Peacock streaming soap opera this time as best friends and more.
So, were you a big Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher fan on Y&R? Did you like them as a couple? Do you like the dynamic between Emily and Peter Porte and Greg Rikaart on DAYS? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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