Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Massey, Wilson & Sweeney Deliver Heart-Stopping Performances As Sami’s Twisted Plot Backfires!
Photo: RScottWilsonInstagram
This week, Days of our Lives served up can’t-miss soap opera! Head writer, Ron Carlivati crafted a riveting story arc that had viewers on the edge of their seats with some frightening drama portrayed masterfully by three all-star performers involved: Chandler Massey (Will), Rob Scott Wilson (Ben) and Alison Sweeney (Sami).
In story, a misguided Sami wanting to trigger the buried memories of her son, Will, takes a lesson from her mother’s psychiatry books about re-creating a traumatic event to do that. In some patients, that works in opening the floodgates to their memories. So, what does Sami do? She gets her goons to kidnap Killer Ben. Sami quickly lets him know who’s in charge, and she slaps him around, and tells him he’s going to bring her son back to her. Next, Sami’s got a gun, and uses it to make Ben stay in-line. Later, Sami has detailed what she wants Ben to do for her. He doesn’t think he can do it, but then he agrees. Meanwhile, Sami has Will kidnapped, and thrown into Ben’s apartment in the dark. Let the plot unfold …
Then comes the reveal, while Sami stays hidden with a gun on Ben, the killer appears with a red necktie in front of Will. A frightened Will asks, “Who are you?” Ben says, “Benjamin” and moves toward Will. Next, Ben starts to strangle Will with a red necktie, and when Will, who has fallen to the floor, is being choked he seems to flashback to the first time he was “killed”. Sami is watching from the closet in tears.
Will begs for Ben to stop, and an anguished Ben realizes he can’t “murder” Will a second time. The whole plot falls apart. Ben tells Will it was his mother who put him up to strangling him again.  Sami’s henchmen emerge and nab Ben as Sami comes forward and explains she was trying to jog her son’s memory! Will screams at her, “What is wrong with you!? You’re a terrible human being. I never want to see you again as long as I breathe!” Will storms out devastated. Sami yells at Ben for wimping out on her before Will remembered everything. As the henchmen hold Ben, he tells Sami, “You’re sick!” Ben tells the henchmen, “Bring this bitch to the padded room!”
Later at Marlena’s (Deidre Hall), Sami tries to apologize to Will by stating she needed him to remember his life, but Will says, “If remembering his life is remembering she’s his mother, he prefers to forget.” He runs to his room! Everyone is pissed at Sami, and she leaves in tears.  Chandler Massey, Rob Scott Wilson, and Alison Sweeney all played their beats to perfection in this very dark and twisted plotpoint.
So what did you think of Sami’s plan to jog Will’s memory on DAYS? Did you enjoy the performances? Comment below!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
Another face familiar to daytime fans has already boarded Ryan Murphy’s limited series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story which stars General Hospital favorite, Nicholas Chavez (Spencer Cassadine) in the role of Lyle.
Tanner Stine who played Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) son, Joey Johnson on Days of our Lives will also appear in the series.
In ‘Monsters’, look for Stine to portray the role of Perry Berman, who was Lyle and Erik’s friend and former tennis coach. In the story, Perry found himself at the epicenter of the murder mystery when he had accepted a phone call from Lyle shortly before the brutal murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Photo: JPI
Other previously announced castings included: Cooper Koch (who plays Erik), Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny as parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne, Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson, and Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth.
Photo: IMDb
In the series, the two wealthy brothers stand trial for shooting their parents in Beverly Hills, amid claims of self-defense after years of abuse, while prosecutors alleged that greed was the motives for the killing. Lyle and Erik Menendez have been behind bars in California for more than three decades for the 1989 killing of their parents.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will debut later in 2024 on Netflix.
What do you think about Tanner Stine being part of the all-star cast for ‘Monsters’? Miss Joey on Days of our Lives? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Set to Be Announced
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed on Wednesday via X, that this year’s 51st annual Daytime Emmy Nominations are set to be announced in full on Friday, April 19th at 12 pm ET/9 am PT.
However, four of the top award category nominations will be revealed on Thursday, April 18th across four entertainment news programs to kick things off.
Those include this Thursday episodes of Access Hollywood, E! News, Entertainment Tonight and Extra. Over the past few years, NATAS has often let the syndicated entertainment news program handle the duties of revealing the top actor and actress in a daytime drama series, but we shall see which categories the shows unveil this year.
Photo/AP
As previously announced, the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be presented in ceremonies on Friday night, June 7th on CBS (8 – 10 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+*.
The awards will be back at The Bonaventure hotel in downtown Los Angeles, where (the delayed due to the actors and writers strike) 50th annual Daytime Emmy Awards were held back in December of 2023.
Look for the full nominations to be posted right here at Michael Fairman TV and you can follow along on Friday on the Daytime Emmys social platforms as well.
Photo: AP
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary, and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.
The 51st Daytime Emmy Nominations will honor the work and achievement from the calendar year of 2023.
So, who would you like to see in the running for gold when the Daytime Emmy nominations in the key acting and show categories are revealed? Share your thoughts below.
Let the countdown begin! #DaytimeEmmys nominations are coming this Friday at noon ET, with a special sneak peek tomorrow on @accesshollywood @enews @etnow @extratv! pic.twitter.com/aL5PFYXBCL
— Daytime Emmys (@DaytimeEmmys) April 17, 2024
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
Sunday night, April 14th in concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City, the Writers Guild of America is handing out their 76th annual WGA Awards in the fields of motion picture, television, news media, and radio/audio.
In the Daytime Drama category, Peacock’s Days of our Lives was the winner, taking home its fourth WGA Award in this category in a row.
The DAYS winning writing team consisted of Head Writer Ron Carlivati Creative Consultant Ryan Quan and Writers Sonja Alar, Jazmen Darnell Brown, Joanna Cohen, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Cheryl Davis, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Dave Ryan, and Katherine D. Schock.
Photo: JPI
The team from Days of our Lives bested the only other team in the category from General Hospital, which consisted of former GH head writers: Dan O’Connor, Chris Van Etten Writers Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Dave Rupel, Lisa Seidman, and Scott Sickles.
Courtesy/Peacock
As previously reported, a show spokesperson for Days of our Lives shared that the episodes submitted for the competition were #14663, #14678 & #14679, and mostly centered around the death, and the funeral of Victor Kiriakis played by the late John Aniston.
This week, DAYS head scribe, Ron Carlivati, confirmed that, and told Michael Fairman TV on the decision of the scripts the team submitted: “I like to have some humor, but it was also the funeral, and then there was Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) giving birth, and then Vivian’s (Louise Sorel) crashing the reading of the will.”
You can follow along with the live updated list of all the winners from tonight’s WGA ceremonies here.
Michael Fairman TV will have more on DAYS WGA Award win as it becomes available.
So, what do you think of Days of our Lives winning the WGA Award writing award for a Daytime Drama series for the fourth year in a row? Comment below.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates One-Year Anniversary as Co-Host of ‘Live’ Alongside Kelly Ripa
DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
Soap Vet Christopher Cousins to The Young and the Restless
More of the Story on ‘General Hospital’ Star Josh Kelly’s Latest Film Role in ‘The Workout’
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Set to Be Announced
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves Talk Return to DAYS for Doug’s Funeral, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and Their Enduring Friendship
DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
Y&R’s Hayley Erin Previews Her Role in Horror-Thriller ‘New Life’
‘The Golden Bachelor’s’ Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist to Divorce Three Months After TV Wedding
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General HospitalApril 12, 2024George Russo to Appear on General Hospital as Carmine Cerullo
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Days Of Our LivesApril 13, 2024Ron Carlivati Talks on Decision to Make Days of our Lives 15000th Episode About Doug’s Funeral, and Previews Chances for WGA Award
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General HospitalApril 15, 2024General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
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RecapsApril 14, 2024Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
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Days Of Our LivesApril 14, 2024Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
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NewsApril 12, 2024Y&R’s Hayley Erin Previews Her Role in Horror-Thriller ‘New Life’
I love having the Sami/Will (Alison Sweeney/Chandler Massey) dynamic on the show. Alison needs to submit these scenes for Emmy consideration. This past month of “DOOL” has been edge-of-your seat great drama. It has been a long time since the show has had two great stories moving at the same time, with the other being the fallout of Theo’s shooting. It seems none of the actors are standing on the sidelines. I also love the Hope/Rafe drama. I have never felt chemistry with the characters and actually liked Hope better with Aiden. I look forward to the return of Ciara, Vivian and also the arrival of Tyler Christopher. DAYS IS BACK!
I would be mad at Sami too…and shouldnt she be arrested????
Will doesn’t want to press charges.
maybe he doesnt but Sami broke the law when she snuck/kidnapped Ben from the mental hospital or wherever he was so there should be criminal charges for that!!!
That was something so outrageous, Jimmy. What is wrong with this picture? Jar his memory by shock?
Why didn’t Sami or anyone else try something more, gee, I don’t know…..watchable?
Maybe Will and Ariana should ‘meet’…or did they, already? If they did, then I missed it.
But, seeing his child should stir some dormant memory.
.
Yes they met, and, heartbreakingly, she didn’t trigger his memories. That’s what made Sami so desperate to try anything. (I think maybe that episode was pre-empted? I watched it online. Marlena had also tried hypnosis unsuccessfully).
I liked that they did it. It gave us something new both by taking Sami’s crazy to a new level, and taking Will’s outrage at her to a whole new level! We’ve had excellent Will and Sami arguments in the past, so to give us something new they had to kick it up a gear, and Massey really brought it. He knocked it right out of the park! Loved it! And the Sweeney rocked it when she thought she’d lost Will again and this time properly forever! And it made their reconciliation that much more wonderful!
@Stephen.
Thank you for your well-written, sooo informative post, Stephen. I soaked up every word….
Unfortunately, I did not see that special moment between father and daughter….I am certain it was as hearbreaking as you described.
Yes, Chandler’s maturity, in both his acting and as Will, has risen a few notches—-looove him….always have…
Sami? What can I say—Ali plays her to heaven and back….she is perfection. That is one character which cannot be played by any other…it is what it is. We need her rare visits more often.
Lets hope Day’s keeps Ron.. he is good for Days.. remember you may not like all of the storylines, but he is really good for Days and let us all embrace him!!
Excellent episodes! Great performances and superb writing! Ron has done wonders with DAYS! Where were you a decade ago when GL needed saving? DAYS is the best soap on the air today! Followed closely by GH!
I have tears on my cheeks simply reading the recap ~ the real thing was awe inspiring. Kudos to the terrific trio!
The folks at ABC are quaking in their boots. They let a genius go. In their heads they were thinking, we have better ideas, we can save our show. So Ron disappeared for a bit and then went over to DAYS. DAYS was literally on the chopping block. Their stories were so horrible that no good acting team could save the stories. Then Ron’s writing appeared…and poof, they went from chopping block to top of the heap. They brought back excellent actors in roles that nearly EVERYONE wanted to see. DAYS always thrives on knock you on your butts drama. The Marlena/Hattie, Adrienne/Bonnie story started the roller coaster ride and then comes Will/Sami/Ben and add in the Paul/Sonny drama. Then add in the very relevant – although a little late – story of Theo’s shooting. Casey Moss deserves an Emmy for the intensity of his role. That boy is very underrated in how good he actually is. He was always written as a boy toy but now he’s being written a young man with many layers. This is a perfect vehicle for him to show off. Eve coming back is so great. They need a fireball like her again with a writer who knows how to use her. All I can say is that I can’t wait for what comes next and previous to Ron my statement was I can miss DAYS and not even notice. Now it’s the first one I watch in my DVR viewing schedule. So glad they got it together and I am so THANKFUL to Ron for what he has done to bring the craziness of DAYS back to life.
Um, the folks at ABC are doing okay. While Ron had a good run at OLTL and some great moments at GH, it was time for him to move on. Ask GH fans about Fluke and Denise Demuccio and you’ll discover it’s all not candy canes and lollipops.
And yet, with all the misfires, it was still much more watchable–at least to me–while Ron was writing it than it has been for the vast majority of the time since he left.
Given the number of equally bad story ideas that have played out on GH since Ron’s departure, it’s at least possible that the problem isn’t with the headwriters, but with ABC.
I agree.Plus maybe Ron Carlivati was okay been fired from GH because maybe he knew he needed a break because adding the time he was head writer at OLTL and head writer at GH it was like 8 years or so in total.So maybe he knew it was time to move on.So between the time he was let go from GH and time he was hired Days maybe Carlivati recharged himself and lived his life without the pressure of been head writer.Plus i’m sure both Carlivati and GH are happy with how things went down because Carlivati is probably enjoying writing for Days and GH is doing good right now.
Ron’s tenure on gh was action packed and must see a large Portion of the 1st two years. The 50th anniversary short term return of Legacy characters, The Return of Faison which played out via The fake Duke Mask story, The Saga of Robin Scorpio death, return from dead Saga which brought Anna Robert
Back to battle Faison and tying into Lukes race to secure the cure storyline, The Critchon Clark/!Cassadne adventure! The way he handled Frisco, Aj returns flopped as well the convoluted f
Messy flop that was Lukes last adventure and reimagining as a man with dissocative idendity crisis. I will The say Gh lately feels less disjointedwhilrthe
I love what chandler Massey has done since he’s been back. He definitely grew stronger as an actor. I love Allison and Rob too. The show is on a very even keel right now and I know this is going to be a good journey for all of us.
Gotta agree. At first I did miss the always-smiling, charming, almost coquettish version of Will that Chandler Massey played in the past. However, I’m now enjoying the more worldly-wise version of Will, who has his own agenda, who doesn’t appreciate having his comfortable world ripped away from him, and who doesn’t accept at face value everything his relatives say to him.
It’s intriguing that this version of Will might demand a true blank slate for himself, not WANTING to be pigeon-holed back into his former self, resenting that former self, while resenting even more those trying try to force that former self onto him.
I must commend the new head writer for making sense out of the previous writing team’s mash, and doing so in thought-provoking and fresh ways.
General Hospital is just now beginning to recover from the horrible damage Ron Carlivati did to it. The TRUE return of Jason Morgan – one of the characters he destroyed – was a big help. Sadly the damage he did to Luke Spencer – THE legendary GH character of all time – will probably never be undone, as the lame assed storyline drove Tony Geary into retirement.
I’m going against my better Devil judgment and giving Ron the benefit of the doubt here. Starting off with the ridiculous double doppleganger story was NOT a good sign. Bringing Will Horton back was a good move…. I’ll even accept the memory loss on a temporary basis (standard soap cliche though it is). But throwing him right back into the ridiculous triangle that ruined the previous re-cast version of Will…. sorry, that’s complete dragonshit.
Paul needs to go back to Hawaii Five 0…. or at least find his own boyfriend. Enough with him hopping between Will & Sonny’s beds already.
And for Hell’s sake, bring back Charlotte Ross and quit propping your OLTL pets.
I don’t think Charlotte wanted to return.
I don’t want a Sonny-Will-Paul triangle either. I can understand Paul hanging onto Sonny though. He’s the only other gay guy in Salem!
Cassis D-Eve isnt a pet…she was on Days before Ron took over the show and only just return…would had liked CR as Eve too but had other commitments and thats why CD was recast and that was before Ron’s arrival!!!!
Ron Carlivati was fired from GH in July 2015.So that was over 2 years.I’m not saying that Carlivati didn’t make mistakes at GH but i don’t think he did kind of damage that it would have taken GH 2 years to repair.As for Kassie DePaiva, she was hired to play Eve long before Carlivati was hired.So is it fair to have Kassie be fired just because she and Carlivati worked together in the past?
I agree that Days is in great shape with Ron. Ron is a soap fan. He gets what viewers like to see and has worked hard with Sheri and Ryan to embrace histories etc. GH is a good soap. I liked it under Ron’s pen as well. Charlotte Ross did not want to return full-time. She was only interested in a short story arc. I loved her as Eve too…but Kassie is great in the role too.
Everyone did a great job. Chandler’s face was red and it looked like he was really being choked.
Just sad that Will doesn’t want to have anything to do with Sami. They were always so close.
I do hope they don’t hook Will up with Paul.
This is a perfect example as to why I can’t stand the “Sami” character…never could, never will.
I love all of this, since Ron C. has joined Days it has been firing on all cylinders! Love it so much. We’ll still have Alison Sweeney and Eileen for a while.
Please let Will hook up with Ben, then Paul, then Derrick before he goes back to Sonny lol.
Hook up with Ben, blake? LOL. Who could blame anyone wanting to hook up with Ben….but, he did ‘kill’ Will. LOL.
PS.
So sorry, blake…..Stephen replied to an old post of mine and after I responded, I read on and completely forgot it is an older site, so I replied to your comment….sorry, again. Forgive me? LOL.
Lol it’s all good Celia.