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DAYS Ken Corday Celebrates 13,000 Episodes & Reveals Leann Hunley's Return, Confirms Sidelined Drake Hogestyn & Talks Storylines To Watch For!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/NBC

Courtesy/NBC

Tuesday was a momentous occasion for NBC’s Days of our Lives and its longtime executive producer Ken Corday.  The series is celebrating this week the taping of its 13,000th episode.

During an on-set celebration today attended by many cast members and creatives, Glamour.com spoke with the EP and got his thoughts on a myriad of subjects related to the soap now in its 51st year and this latest milestone.

When asked about several fan favorites returning later this year on-screen including: Charles Shaughnessy and Patsy Pease as Shane and Kimberly, and Leann Hunley as Anna, Corday responded:  “They don’t start airing until after Christmas. We are really way, way ahead, and we’re going to try and get closer to air time, but we do eight shows a week, so… I’m thrilled, but especially those two did not miss a beat walking on the stage. It was like they never left. Charlie had been gone longer than Patsy because she has made a few appearances at weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, etc. Charlie’s transition was seamless. It’s a good story. It’s interwoven with Hope’s story, and it’s great. There are more surprise returns from the past to come. Leann Hunley (Anna) will be back in Salem (as well). “

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

When asked about the status of Drake Hogestyn, who has been reportedly sidelined by an injury from a fall during a freak accident back in May, and has not been shooting new episodes, Corday confirmed it stating: “We wish Drake the best and hope to see him back on set soon.”

When teasing what upcoming storylines Corday is most excited for fans to see, the EP related:  “There are two: the one with Chad and Abigail and JJ and Gabi. They are very vibrant and good actors, the young future of the show. I’m very excited about the story Nicole will have coming up with Chloe and Deimos and with Brady and another huge return from the past. Again, a big surprise, and a great part of Nicole’s past and life experience in Salem. It’s a baby story, and those seem to work well for us.”

So, what do you think about the news of a DAYS return by Leann Hunley?  What do you think about the upcoming storylines teased? The status of Drake Hogestyn? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Oh, My Gosh darned IT

Leann Hunley the beautiful is back

so smart as a whip… her screen presence is tantamount to definition of S – e – x – y

dang it …

as I’ve posted before… wouldn’t it be great to see Anna DiMera and Eve Donovan as besties… better yet… as Anna sister !!!!!

I love Anna & am thrilled she’s coming back! Now if we could just get Tony to “come alive” again, that would be perfect. Happy to see Shane, too, but I hope PP tones down her overacting. I’d really prefer her not to return.

Tont is due to come back to life because just like his father Stefano, he also has the Phoenix’ capabilities to rise from the dead.

The secrecy surrounding Drake’s accident and recovery status is scaring me! I hope he’s alright. I’ve heard conflicting reports of his accident and all his costars are tight lipped, which tells me he is/was possibly in critical condition.

I hope he is ok too…meanwhile, the return of Anna ect has renewed my interest in the show…so im sticking with it for now!!!

Yeah that was a strange response from Ken. I didn’t know the other actors are tight lipped. I hope Drake is doing great.

I hope Drake is okay. I think that other cast members are respecting his privacy by saying nothing.

It only takes a couple words from one person, mary, without compromising/disrespecting his privacy…”He’s OK” is all that’s needed.

It sounds promising. I hope #Days is looking for some writing talent in Nashville and not just acting talent. Great folks here that were working on Nashville. Some awesome are nor being retained by new regime.

Folks are loyal to #Days in Nashville. A lot is happening in the city..and not just production of CMT ‘ s Nashville prime time show.

I am sure that folks will turn out for a 13,000 episode celebration. It is the perfect time to come. Zsouthern Living Publishing is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Nashville in September. They are based in Birmingham, AL. Built new A-1 facilities there
… but Nashville is the happening spot for South and several industries these days.

Like the idea of playing up Nicole, Brady, Chloe, Deimos in some fashion.Ari Zucker is incredibly talented and has been wasted for several years now.

It will be interesting to see who mystery return will be… I have an idea if Days wants to truly get on track. Have always thought Nicole was destined to have her own child on show. As Days wants …it will be a guessing game.

Hope everyone is good to Viacom. CMT is committed to pm ore serialized scripted drama. Some wonderful daytime, prime time and music artists and writers call Nashville home. Hope Days exwxutivws, casting and Ken Corday meet with diverse group while in TN.

I

Sooooo excited!! Love Leann. She is such a great actress!!!

I really hope they can turn this show around, it’s worrying seeing the ratings constantly tumbling.

I really hope that the rumors of Will’s return are true, we need him.

Bring Kassie back Full Time please!!!

I love Kassie DePaiva and would love to see her full time; but, as excellent as she is, she can’t carry the entire show by herself. I don’t find any of the current story lines interesting. I was very excited about the return of Daniel Cosgrove; but, they have paired Aiden with that cartoon character villain and I find it boring. The missing Abigail should be interesting but the writing dropped the ball. I pray they aren’t going to try to make an item of Chad and that pitiful young woman playing Ciara. Billy Flynn is very good; but he can’t do it alone. Vincent Irizarry is terrific; but, from where I sit, the Deimos story fizzled. I just don’t see a clear direction for Days.

What a Twinkie-munch interview. I wish someone actually had the guts to publicly call out Ken Corday over how exactly he has allowed this show to become such a totally unwatchable trainwreck. Memo to Ken: Take a good look at the recent numbers, which translate to cancellation if things don’t turn around in a hurry.

He has proven time and time again just how out of touch he is with what fans/viewers want to see, and he lies over and over again. It’s very sad to see how far this show has fallen in such a short time. It used to be such a great show.

“love” the blast

exactly ! YES YES and – more – YES !

Ken Corday is a travesty… his production value has made shambles of all the LOVE that is Betty and Ted Corday

I certainly DO NOT want a cancellation any time soon

LISTEN Ken Corday

REAL

EXACTLY Pat. Not only that what a cavalier way to talk about Patsy Pease. .bar mitzvahs and weddings..dope. .people like baby stories. .uhhh nor really Teddy..people would like you to come out of the SIXTIES. .he’s going to tank his parents show into cancelation. .someone needs to wise up and release him on the strength of that interview alone. .you CANNOT keep recycling the same stories with the same characters. This is no REBOOT..none of them ever really were. .you have pre raped yourselves into oblivion and by Christmas your casting sinus WON’T help.

Pretaped and casting stunts

A return by Kassie DePaiva would be great but I think it would take a return by Chandler Massey to make the ratings move.

Sadly none of this makes me want to watch Days again. Ken constantly drops the ball, he’s a mess.

Love to see Leann again.

Breaking News

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

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Daytime Emmy Presenters

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.

Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS

In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year,  A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.

The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).

The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”

Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.

So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

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Kyle Pryor

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!

Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.

He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Dominix

Photo: Peacock

Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2.  In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.

Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.

So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives’ Conner Floyd Talks Dominic Marino Mystery, Chad and Belle, and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Exclusive)

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Conner Floyd

Fasten your seat belts Days of our Lives fans, as the mystery of Dominic Marino continues to unravel on all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera. Last week, Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) learned that he may have a half-brother, who may be the biological child of his father, the late Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), giving him great pause, because he knows Stefano had kidnapped Marlena for four years back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Chad has already been hunting down clues with his current girlfriend Belle Black (Martha Madison) in Italy and Salem, which revealed a photo of a young boy with Stefano with the date 1992 on the back of it, hidden inside Stefano’s chess set. So, what’s next?

Conner Floyd chatted on the Michael Fairman Channel in a new virtual interview released on Sunday, October 18, where he spoke on what the new addition to the DiMera family could do to the already dangerous sibling rivalries, the state of Chad’s relationship with Belle and much more.

EJ and Chad

Photo: JPI

DIMERA RIVALRY

After finding out from EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) that Dominic Marino could be the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano and Marlena, Conner Floyd explained, “I think it blows Chad’s mind a little bit. I think there’s a lot of things working there with old Chad. Obviously, bringing in another DiMera could cause some noise and the whole situation with Marlena’s a little awkward as well because he’s dating Belle, so this could cause a little tiff there. I think his head’s spinning and he does not know what to expect, but I also think he kind of expects that from Stefano, for sure.”

As to how this will change and color Chad’s relationship with EJ, Floyd responded, “Chad knows EJ’s not happy about it and I think he’s going to be real upset if this gets in his way of doing what he wants to do with the DiMera legacy and all that. However, for Chad, I think he’s just going to keep a sharp eye, see what this guy’s about, see if he’s here to cause some trouble or here to be a friend and kinda play it by ear.”

Belle and Chad

Photo: JPI

BELLE OF MY HEART

With Chad and Belle already being sleuths, Floyd says, you can look for the duo to continue getting to the truth. “I think Chad and Belle are committed to this. They’re going full National Treasure, Nicolas Cage,” says Conner. “They’re going to follow the clues. They’re going to get some answers.”

Since beginning in the role of Chad in June of 2025 and debuting on-screen back in April of 2026, the former Y&R star (where he played Chance Chancellor), says it was Madison who helped him get comfortable in his new surroundings.

“Martha is phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get tagged up with when I started here, just because she knows everybody,” shares Floyd. “She knows where to go, who to talk to. She’ll get the tea if you want, and so it was kind of cool. Martha took me under her wing, showed me the ropes. She’s a sweetheart.  I love working with her too. She’s a great actress.”

But, is Chad in love with Belle after such a tortured past with his beloved Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Floyd thinks so! “I think he’s into it. They’re such good friends and they have such a rich history. I think he’s in for the ride. You know, it’s one of those things you probably overlook at first and then they reconnected, and it feels easy and they’re going on these fun adventures.”

MAKING CHAD HIS OWN

Conner had the arduous task of being the successor to Billy Flynn in the role of Chad.. Flynn had played the part for 12 years before deciding to exit and head to Y&R. So, how did Conner approach learning the ins and out of Chad? Floyd shared, “I really dove into Chad when I first got this job. I liked that he kind of walks this tightrope of DiMera and not DiMera, you know. He want to so honor his family roots and really do something for the DiMera family, but he doesn’t want to fall into that trap that all the other DiMera have found themselves in. Chad is a DiMera at heart. He’s got those demons, but he’s just trying to keep them contained.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes

Photo: JPI

ICONIC

When Floyd got to DAYS, it was none other than Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) who most surprised him in the most delightful way, given that he knew Hayes was a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the current longest-running cast member on the canvas.

“I love working with Susan Hayes! I love her. She’s a sweetheart. Susan is one of the nicest people there. I just thought she was cool and it’s Susan Hayes, you know?  We’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is nice,” explained Conner.

“We’ll go to her dressing room, we’ll run our scenes, and then we’ll spend about an hour just talking about life and she’ll tell me about a book she’s reading. She’s such a history buff, which blows my mind. She’ll start dropping all these historical facts on me. I learn something new by the time I walk out of her dressing room every time!”

Now below, check out the full conversation with Conner Floyd via the Michael Fairman Channel.

Weigh-in: Do you like Chad and Belle as couple? Do you think Chad will get to the bottom of the Dominic Marino mystery? If so, do you think Dominic is truly Stefano and Marlena’s son … and what about Rita (Maggie Carney) in all this? Let us know your theories in the comment section.

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