Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Ken Corday, Greg Meng Along With Crystal Chappell To Launch New Digital Soaps Platform!

April 4, 2014

Intriguing and great news today from Variety.com that none other than Days of our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday along with co-EP Greg Meng are spearheading a brand new online soap venture called Net Soaps/Net Novelas!

This new venture aiming to create and distribute original “interactive” soap operas online that let fans, thesps and advertisers participate in the shows’ development. The venture will focus on multilingual soaps for the U.S., Latin America and Brazil. Net Soaps/Net Novelas also is making a branded-content pitch to advertisers to integrate their products or services directly in the new digital series.

“This new venture is about taking the passion consumers have for soaps and novelas into a new era,” said Ken Corday, CEO of Corday Productions, who has been exec producer of “Days of Our Lives” since 1985. “This will be original content that the fans will play a role in green lighting and casting, delivered in a form that can build devoted communities of fans in the digital space.”

After Prospect Park’s attempt at an Online Network fizzled, they say this will be much different in structure: “Prospect Park was taking existing shows and platform-shifting them,” said All Screens Media founder Peter Heumiller, a former VP of content acquisition for Comcast Cable. “We are creating content in a forward-thinking way that gives us a unique platform to connect with people in multiple ways.”

The sponsorship model is key for Net Soaps/Net Novelas. Advertisers can get involved to the point of making casting decisions for the shows, according to Heumiller. “It’s really coming full circle – soap operas were originally sponsored by the detergent companies,” he said.

Net Soaps/Net Novelas plans to launch the digital soaps in the third quarter of 2014 quarter, via its own websites and distribution partners. Net Soaps is the English-language version targeted at American auds, while Net Novelas will encompass in-language programming for LatAm and Brazil.

Corday Productions’ executive in charge of production Greg Meng will lead development of online portals that will engage consumers and actors in the creation of the content, via online casting and acting auditions, voting on show concepts and ongoing narrative turns. Actors will be able to upload video reels to Net Soaps/Net Novelas as part of the development process.

And none other than Crystal Chappell is on board too! She will work with Net Soaps / Net Novelas to vet concepts, produce and direct original shows and mentor new talent.

And as for the Novela part of this new venture: “The Net Soap/Net Novelas team includes independent producer Rose Ganguzza, who has worked with Brazil’s TV Globo on international distribution and also served as president of Revlon/Latin America. Ganguzza will work with her sister, Patricia Ganguzza, whose AIM Productions provides product placement and sponsorship for corporate clients, on international promotional, talent, sponsorship and distribution deals for Net Soaps/Net Novelas.”

So, what do you think about the concept of Net Soap/Net Novelas? What about the creative team behind it? Will soaps finally have an engaging online home for new content and more? Comment below!

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Click to comment

Guest

su0000

It seems interesting..
and not too overly interactive, I’m too lazy for that stuff..
But! I will tune in 🙂
Also;
I really really hope there will be a WAR forum because there will be war !!!

quote;
” “This will be original content that the fans will play a role in green lighting and casting, delivered in a form that can build devoted communities of fans in the digital space.””

ahh haa! the difference of opinions, wants and needs from fans will be dangerous!! lol ..
gotta luv the internet hair pulling!!

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Sounds interesting…i always thought all soaps should use and mention real products in their storylines…also why not show characters eating out at a Subway or a Mcdonalds or shopping at a Target store? It would be a great way to generate more money for the soaps…imo!!!

Guest

su0000

Soap people don’t eat lol
When an eating occasion arises their food goes untouched on the plate..
And— there has not been a kitchen, a real kitchen, in soaps since the 70’s …. when most the stories were in someones kitchen ..
Mona always had a cup of coffee and cookies, in the kitchen at the table, for everyone .. 🙂
((and never instant coffee ..ha!

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

I know that…i cant remember the last time i had seen the Horton kitchen on Days…however, i was suggesting showing real eating places and businesses once in awhile in the storylines instead of the fake ones to generate more income for these shows…thanks for they reply!

Guest

brian

about kitchens in soaps… I remember both Vicki and Dorian had kitchens right to the end of OLTL, and both where shown cooking…

do anyone else remember ?

Guest

Jules

I remember Brian.

G-d help me, I also remember Passions has a really nice kitchen set in the Crane mansion.

And to answer your question Jim, last we saw the Horton kitchen was during the weed donut episodes ;).

Nowadays, most living sets have a kitchenette right there, with a fridge, stove and counter. Daniel, Will/Sonny/Gabi, Sami’s apartments with Rafe and her one after that, Theresa’s etc…

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Now that Brian mentioned it they did still showed kitchens on OLTL up til it left the air a few years ago!!!

Guest

Mary SF

Some of the reasons for not mentioning brand names is many of them are copyrighted and you have to get permission and pay fees to use the name or logo in a show. And that is the same reason right now you don’t see them eating those products on air, but have look a like packaging to suggest, say the KFC bucket without using the wording on it. But having ads in the show , I remember GH did do it while back. Alexis and Molly were in the hospital, I think when Danny was sick and Alexis send Molly… Read more »

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Brian…now that you mention it, i do remember now that they had kitchens!!!

Guest

Jazz

I think Crystal Chappell should be extremely grateful that Mr Corday is giving her this opportunity after her disgraceful behavior when she left Days of Our Lives but I doubt she will be.

Guest

Jules

……And what she wrote about him in her “autobiography”.

The lesson here: never burn your bridges.

Guest

jimh(leave it to beaver)

Thanks 4 reminding me about the Horton kitchen scene during the weed donut scene…but i know we havent seen the Horton dining room in ages!!!

Guest

Mary SF

This is the way to bring the soap genre online– creating the product to suit the media— trying to recreate a television show as online show like PP was a not forward thinking enough and it ended up disappointing those who wanted something different and those who wanted their old soap back. And it also makes sense to make the ads a part of the show, because as television fades the idea of the commercial as we know it will have to evolved too. Making the ads are part of the show, may corrupt the creative process just a tad,… Read more »

Guest

Deborah Kallus

Talk about a ridiculous idea … This would be it…Ken Corday is a joke…Boggles the mind that anyone takes the man serious…Especially with the stupid storylines he allows on DOOL…

Guest

su0000

There has been worse ideas– many ..
And it will be FREE ..
so, nothing out of my pocket to tune in..
If I don’t like it I did not invest anything money wise to watch it so I can’t bitch about it…… lol
I think it just might be good 🙂

Guest

Patrick

it seems to me… this is ALL good

a ways and means… for Serial… to beget a legitimate foothold… that is internet

and an outlet for Serial audience… to segueing from the lost soap channel to this

Guest

Patrick

Crystal Chappell is mesmerizing… an exotic beauty that never fails to captivate from the time of her debut… to current, 2014 she has solidified her place at the helm of driving… Serial be it for… lesbianism …. LOL… as she’s derided for… by few… and standing ovation for her tumultuous courage… and acts with ever fiber in her body I think it was only natural… that Ken Corday, asked CC to helm… this … wonderful.. venture… as she is the spearhead and one of thee pioneers for this medium… that will always have a life… a shelf life… a foothold…… Read more »

Guest

KateA

I don’t think I will like the interactive part. Prospect Park was a disaster. The online soaps are too short and tend to be way too sexy for me. Y & R is the soap that I find interesting. I am trying to like B&B but it the storylines don’t go deep enough for me. I will watch this new venture but I don’t hold out much hope for it. I wish I had billions of dollars to spend , I would bring back all the canceled soaps with as many original actors that I could. I would start with… Read more »

Guest

Johnny

If done naturally, and NON Ron Carlivati style, product placement or locale advertising doesn’t have to seem jarring or out of place. It can be done subtly, and be just a natural conversation. It could be “Hey do you wanna go for lunch at Subway? They have those awesome pulled pork subs on special.” “Sure.” End of conversation. They dont have to be turned into mini ads…if he people writing the show have the talent . Many soap writers have no idea what subtext and subtlety are hough.

Guest

Lou Piikes

I am glad that Ken Corday is forward thinking. I hope this new venture is very successful and profitable. I want to see some soap stars from the past like Linda Dano and Vicki Wyndham show up on this new medium.

Guest

4everDAYS

Ken Corday…pioneer!!!

Guest

Matthew Place

I would like to see a websoap that just wants to be a “soap”. All the websoaps I had high hopes for (Tainted Dreams, for one) turned out to be touted as soaps but were more “artsy” than accessible. KC would do well to make sure his websoaps are “accessible”. Maybe CC can help that along, she seems to have an idea of how a websoap should work. I can live with the ads in the show as long as they’re subtle and NOT driving any story! It can work if the right decisions are made — and I am… Read more »

Guest

Libby

I am skeptical. None of these players have the integrity I need to accept it at face value. I will quietly be waiting to see what comes from this initiative.

Guest

Sue

NO WEB SOAPS I WOULD NOT WATCH

Guest

BTripp

This is brilliant! With CC and Greg Meng involved, it will be great.

Days Of Our Lives

Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS

June 10, 2021

There has been a casting switcheroo at Days of our Lives. Precious Way is out in the role of Chanel Dupree and the part had been recast.

Way debuted on-screen back in March of 2021, but now comes word, first via Jason 47’s Facebook page, that Chanel will be played by actress Raven Bowens.

According to Soap Opera Digest, look for Bowens to first air on-screen on the July 6th episode. Apparently, she has been taping at the DAYS set since April.

Raven has previously appeared on All Rise, Insecure, The New Edition Story and Future Man.

You can follow her on Instagram here.

So, what do you think of the Chantal switch? Comment below.

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Alison Sweeney Previews the New EJami

June 6, 2021

Coming up on Days of our Lives, Dan Feurerriegel take over the role of EJ DiMera on-screen, and the character is making quite the timely, or untimely return to Salem now that Sami (Alison Sweeney) has been hitting the sheets with her ex-husband, Lucas (Bryan Dattilo).

Feurerriegel is stepping into the coveted role of EJ made soap-famous by James Scott, who left the series back in 2014 and never returned.

Now the question is can Sweeney and Feurerriegel strike soap gold with their re-imagined duo known as “EJami”?

In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Alison Sweeney opened up about the casting, working with Dan, and the future of EJami sharing: “To be honest, I was nervous when I heard they were recasting EJ. That’s a big role to fill, I mean, James Scott was definitely a fan favorite and EJ is such a memorable role in the story and certainly in Sami’s life.”

Sweeney said of sharing scenes with Feurerriegel, “Dan has been fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He clearly understood the importance of the task ahead.”

As for what fans of EJami may be in for, Sweeney noted: ” I hope those ‘EJami’ fans see the couple they were so connected to, but of course, in a new, different way.”

So will you be giving the new EJami a chance? Looking forward to Dan’s debut, or are you Team Lumi all the way? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first check out this week’s promo for DAYS.

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Billy Flynn Opens Up To Maurice Benard About His Battle with Addiction on All-New ‘State of Mind’

May 30, 2021

In a terrific episode of Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos, General Hospital) State of Mind You Tube series, the actor welcomes another one of the best actors on daytime, Days of our Lives star Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera, Days of our Lives).

What made this so compelling was Billy Flynn’s ability to talk openly, frankly, and with great understanding about his battles with addiction which he notes have been alcohol, drugs, and the cycles he has found himself in within his life and how he was able to break free of them, and the work he continues to do to keep him from falling back into them.

Flynn shares how much of his adult life was greatly impacted by his childhood, and explained to Benard, how he acted out when he was younger. He also shares how his addiction caused issues for awhile with his job at Days of our Lives.

This episode is a powerful one to watch for anyone struggling with issues of addiction, dependency, suicide, having problems at work, and trying to not self-destruct, which so many of us do, once we seemingly get what we what or while we are trying to obtain it.

Bravo to Billy and Maurice for bringing this forward and to the audience.

Watch Billy’a visit on State of Mind below, followed by a bonus segment where Flynn asks Benard some ‘hard-hitting’ questions.

What did you think of what Billy shared with Maurice? Comment below.