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
Lisa Rinna Would Be Down to Reprise Her Role of Taylor McBride in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot
When Lisa Rinna departed her popular role of Billie Reed on Days of our Lives back in 1995, her next major role would be a jump to primetime and the soapy Melrose Place.
In 1996, Lisa was introduced as new character Taylor McBride and stayed with the Fox young adult sudser for three seasons. Now in 2024, with the recent reveal that a Melrose Place revival is the works with Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton all on board to reprise their signature roles, would Rinna board the project should it come to fruition?
Speaking with PEOPLE, Rinna expressed, “Well, gosh, I’ve heard about it. I haven’t been approached or anything, but I would love to see what Taylor McBride is up to 25 years later. Wouldn’t that be something?”
Photo: FOX
OG Melrose Place fans know that in story, Taylor moved to the Melrose Place apartment building with her husband Kyle played by Rob Estes. However, Taylor had her eye on Dr. Peter Burns played by former GH star Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco). But, by the time she had moved to the apartment complex, Peter had married tough as nails ad executive, Amanda Woodward, played by Heather Locklear.
Recalling her time on Melrose Place, Rinna added that it, “was one of my greatest and most fun acting experiences, playing Taylor and working with Heather and the whole crew.” Rinna also noted, “So if they need a Taylor McBride appearance, they know who to call. I’m around.”
Photo: JPI
The new Melrose Place is in development at CBS Studios. In the premise of the reboot, the Melrose Place residents reunite after the death of one of their friends, “but the pressure cooker of a reunion soon uncovers old traumas, rekindles old romances, reignites old resentments, and reveals new secrets… throwing our characters into chaotic drama that’s reminiscent of the past, but with a much more modern perspective.”
So, would you want to see Lisa Rinna reprise her Melrose Place role as Taylor McBride? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes
After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.
Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.
“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider, “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”
Photo: JPI
It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.
“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”
Photo: JPI
Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized. “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”
Photo: JPI
As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.
So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.
Breaking News
Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R
On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.
According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.
During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Photo: JPI
Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.
Photo: JPI
At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.
If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.
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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.