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Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Freddie Smith and Alison Sweeney Deliver Heartbreaking Performances As Sonny & Sami Struggle With Will's Death!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/NBC

Earlier in the week, On-Air On-Soaps gave major kudos to the cast of Days of our Lives for their performances when many key characters in Salem learned that Will Horton (Guy Wilson) had been murdered by the necktie serial killer (Ben Weston). But once the action picked-up in later episodes, in particular on Thursday and Friday, it was Freddie Smith’s performance of Sonny Kiriakis, and Alison Sweeney’s performance as Sami, that truly broke our hearts.

Sonny had finally arrived in Salem from Paris grief-stricken.  He lost his husband, the man he was intending on coming back to town to make things right with.  Instead, he is coming back to Salem to bury him.  As Sonny made his way through Salem, he first stops by to see his mother, Adrienne (Judi Evans) and his father, Justin (Wally Kurth) for some tears and hugs.  He then made his way to the apartment he shared with Will.   Once inside, nothing made us reach for the hankies more, during this sad week of air shows, than when Sonny nearly collapsed on the floor of the crime scene in anguish … in the most gutwrenching of cries.  Gabi (Camila Banus), who was there, hugs Sonny and he asks to be alone.   Later, Paul (Christopher Sean) shows up to try to comfort him, but to no avail.  Sonny also goes to the hospital where he sees Abigail (Kate Mansi) and learns where Chad’s (Billy Flynn) room is.  He tells Abigail he cannot comprehend how Chad could kill Will.  “He was my best friend, and Will’s,” is what Sonny basically relates to Abby.  Thus far, Sonny has not been able to face his daughter Arianna … Will and Gabi’s bio-child he helped raise!

Courtesy/NBC

Then we have Will’s mother, Sami who is dealing with her grief by barely grieving at all.  However, she too lost it when she visited Will’s apartment, and wound up on the ground looking at the crime scene, and flashing back to her younger days caring for baby Will!  It was a tearjerker.  Sami also lets out some major tears at Will’s.  As Marlena (Deidre Hall), Brady (Eric Martsolf) and Eric (Greg Vaughan) try to help Sami  … kick,  scream, cry and let it all out, she becomes even more removed from her emotions.  Later, Sami wants to take her anger towards Stefano (Joe Mascolo) and the DiMeras, and put it good use to snuff out Chad’s life with a pillow, while getting into his hospital room.  Marlena eventually happens upon the scene and stops her.  When Sami goes to rest at John (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena’s, she goes through a bundle of mail Marlena had been keeping for her, and it it contained a letter from EJ !  Will Sami check out what’s contained in the safety deposit box from the key EJ left her in the letter?  Stay tuned.  Sami has had to cope, and try to come to terms, with two deaths in the last year – her husband and her first- born son.  How Sweeney plays Sami, as she tries to pull it together, and then despite of herself has a moment of heartbreak and emotion has made also for emotional viewing for DAYS viewers.

Will’s funeral begins next week as Sonny, Sami, and Lucas (Bryan Dattilo) have to bury their husband, and their child, respectively.  We are sure hankies will be needed in droves for that, as well.

So, what did you think of the performances of Freddie Smith and Alison Sweeney on last week’s episodes of Days of our Lives?  Do you wish they were staying on the series longer than their short visits? What moment make you reach for the hankies?  Hard to imagine after seeing Sonny’s reaction, but  … WilSon is no more.  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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All performances were outstanding. I know many people were upset that they killed Will, but the show needed a shot in the arm and I think this was it. I am looking forward to see how this plays out. Kudos to the writers and actors. Emmy’s all around! 😉

Did Grandma Kate and 2nd cousin Teressa shed a tear over Will…noooooooo…they were more concerned with business matters…Sonny and Sami gave great performances as expected but when you have other characters showing very little emotion over Wills tragic death, it really somewhat ruins this storyline for me!

Hi, Jimmy.
If truth be known, I was ver much impressed by Lucas. He really outdid himself. I was in tears along with him.
Yes, Sami mourned, wept, sobbed as a mother should….however, no one can compare to Kassie D. The image of the what’s-the-point-of-living, grieving mother took permanent residence in my brain.

let my put out their; my adage… just when i think I”ve got it all figured out or formulated in my mind… posts stream in and level (LOL) my ideal… and help me creatively enjoy

JimH… I was all set to agree with you about Kate and Theresa… till I read… more

1… all I really need to see is Alison Sweeney ACT… and I’m floored dam break and on emotional overload

2… if he was my husband… i’d lose it…. ie: seeing Freddie Smith home for this is tantamount to… LGBT reeling very much REAL LIFE

Oh, Ceec’ : I’ve thought about Kassie DePaiva… (how dare I compare) these two amazing actresses….. and they are both no longer on the show

for the love of all things want : I’d take Kassie DePaiva back in a heartbeat… ie: and it’s due to new blood; new character; new energy ; new intrigue

Lauren Koslow… is one of my all time favorite characters on Serial… (LOL) and yes… i’ve stated as much… if I were a woman… I’d be Kate… a powerful woman… with intricacies… and emotional upheavel she carries with so much aplomb that I admire her character… how is it that her character… lives her life… with our without ??? any one? she traverses through Salem… on her own energies…

ie: JimH… I care so much about this show… that i’m pinpointing… like… Kate’s reaction kinda threw me… as well… I see her “sorrowing” on her own… as she collects herself, sums up , and pulls herself together and forges onward…

I liked that she told Lucas… as they are on the outs… “I’m glad that you called me”

she gave all the credit to Marlena… as Lucas shared how his mother knew and accepted outright Will happiness

TEARS : this is definately… a throwback to what serial does well.. when a character with so many ties… just cuts to the core

CeeCee…you know me very well…most people call me Jimmy…love it!

I respectfully disagree with you– Kate is not the sloppy sentimental type, I think it would be out of character to see her grieving Will outwardly– the show did show a shot of her crying alone in the park when Lucas showed up– then she composed herself like Kate would. Also many people deal with grief by keeping busy, like tending to a business, which is also an acceptable way to do it.

As for Theresa she hardly knew Will even if they were related. I think the amount of grief she shown is in keeping with the character.

Lastly this still a television show and there has to be some balance, if everyone was just standing there weeping for an hour that would way toooo depressing. There are also only so many scenes they can show per day, so they are focusing on the reactions people want to see like Sonny’s and Sami’s — and hopefully Caroline’s because she loss her great grandson and her reaction is the one I want to see over watching Theresa shed some fake tears for a 2nd cousin she hardly knew.

So I hope you reconsider because this story is so compelling as it is, it is a shame if you let something like this ruin it for you.

You are right about Kate…but still talking business in the town square felt sowewhat tacky and disrespectful to me…i barely knew my cousin who was killed by a drunk driver but i still put off normal everyday activities until at least after the funeral but then again this is a soap!

Kate is somewhat cold anyway, Jimh. Plus, she did thank Lucas for calling her “last night” to tell her of Will’s death, which meant her reaction wasn’t shown, except the little bit with Lucas at the park. Kate had to keep up her business bitch facade with Nicole and Theresa.

I never want Sonny to leave. I feel like Freddie did a wonderful job as the grieving husband.

And Paul dropping by? Shades of Noah butting in on Luke’s grieving of Reid and asking hiim to come to LA with a view toward taking more of Noah’s abuse. But at least Paul didn’t play that card. But him dropping by was SO inappropriate. have they let Sean go, too?
v
Sami/Alison? Tpical over the top chewing furniture immature bullsht she usually pulls. I’m TERRIFIED that she is going to stay since she got a letter from EJ. But then, I keep forgettng. When Sonny leaves, I leave. I’d rather eat dirt than watch that fireplug emote her way from A to B. In what universe do people act that way and pull the crap Sami pulls and people still love her and fall all over themselves for her well being. What did that guy call her? Trainwreck of self-involvement! How many times has she gotten away with murder or attempted murder iincluding last week? No, no, no. I just can’t. I kknow she’s a fan favorite but I just can’t ride that train.

PS: Please please give Fr eddie Smith his second Emmy! This whole year has been Sonny & Will’s year.

yeah, I really thought the same thing… when it seemed like all things were going good … ie: character evolve

and she pulls the stunt of wanting to murder Chad… with pillow , as he lay comatose in the hospital

that’s what let me go… of AS … when she left the show… the immaturity and loud vocal of her stubborn lacks

all in all… Alison Sweeney and Kassie DePaiva acting of loss… when it’s your child…

tears and had me right their

Blown away! However, mixing business in with the grief feels false and is disappointing. Kate would be beside herself losing Will.

I agree… Emmys all around. This is DOOL’s year!

“gosh darned it”

would’nt this be an opportune time… for the headwriting team… and DAYS production to let loose…. Lauren Koslow

as in: give her a predilection… of damnation… ???? !!!! just giving in and collapsing her stalwart back bone and losing spine and losing face….

having said that… it wouldn’t be our Kate… who puts one foot in front of the other

to see her show emotion…

it’s been a long time hasn’t it ?

She was so good with Rafe

ie: when it was shared that Eduardo may be in her horizon ????

couldn’t come any sooner

Reign

I think Freddie Smith was wonderful. He mourned was so realisticly. He made me cry right along with him. If he doesn’t get a Emmy for this one something is wrong.

hmmm I actually disagree and have not thought that the crying from Freddie Smith has been that great.. I have watched this show for many years and have no connection with the actor who played Will.. I have not felt bad at all. This murder has not drawn me in… it has been fun to wath.. but not shedding any tears….

For me, Eve’s grief scenes felt far more heart wrenching. Even in her appearance… little makeup, wardrobe, just incredibly real and raw in her grief. Major kudos to Kassie DePaiva.

I cried when Sami was on the ground crying for her first-born. Sonny crying over his husband made me feel so bad. I don’t understand why Days had to kill Will. Ali Sweeney didn’t understood it either. But Ali is a really great actress, she can play Sami like only she can. I just hoped that she would stay for the longer hold. But there’s nothing you can do about it. I love Sami

I think the acting the last couple of weeks was spot on. From the moment Will stepped into Ben and Abigail’s Apartment, to his death scene, and now with all of his family and Husband finding out.

I was heart sick to watch Sami (Alison was amazing) and especially Sonny (Freddie was incredible), I used a box of tissue during the two episodes, and I have more waiting.

I also think that Kassie DePaiva was great the past fews weeks too.

I WANT THE RATINGS FROM LAST WEEK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will’s death has provided so many wonderful scenes. With these performances I could see Emmy wins for Sweeney and Smith! Even these episodes for best show!

Sorry Michael I meant to put that in the general comment section.

Will’s death has provided so many wonderful scenes. With these performances I could see Emmy wins for Sweeney and Smith! Even these episodes for best show!

Great performances; although, I am ready for Sami to head to Switzerland to chase after EJ’s letter. Nice visit; but time to go. Really, who would believe that Chad committed these murders? It’s ridiculous. The evidence is all circumstantial. Anyone that knows Chad knows that he may be arrogant and have an ego-but he’s not a murderer.

Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16

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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.

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series

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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.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026’ Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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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!

 

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